WEBVTT

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I want to thank you for your decades of

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service to our nation . I know

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both have more time for UK and UL

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basketball , but in the case of Western ,

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Your hometown school as well .

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So gentlemen , I also need to

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acknowledge the outset the devotion and

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sacrifice of American service members .

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US airmen have been at the absolute

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razor's edge of recent operations in

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the Gulf .

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Degrading Iran's offensive capabilities .

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Evading the enemy on the ground ,

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bringing down the comrade's home .

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Sustaining the joint force and in the

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case of KC-135 crew over Iraq .

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Making the ultimate sacrifice . I know

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I speak for the entire subcommittee in

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recognizing these fallen airmen , their

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comrades . And their families .

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But we're here today to review the

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administration's fiscal year 27 budget

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request . For the Department of the Air

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Force . As I've observed in discussions

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with other services , major increases

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to topline defense spending represent A

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tremendous opportunity to improve

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readiness and lethality across the

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force and industrial capacity across .

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Our whole country . At the same time ,

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the structure of the request for the

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Department of Defense . would put

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consistent funding for key priorities .

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At unnecessary risk . Core

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pieces of the president's defense

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agenda like multi-year procurement

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contracts for critical munitions , half

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of the F-35 program , Golden

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Dome . And drome .

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Dominance initiatives . are all

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requested as a one-off reconciliation

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spending . Not a full year based

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appropriations . This is especially

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mystifying for multi-year procurement

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contracts . I mean , the need to budget

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for them annually is right there . In

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the name . But it's more than just a

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contradiction in terms . It's also a

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recipe for major disruptions in the

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very possible event . That party

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line reconciliation fails .

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The administration's choice to

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structure an ambitious $1.5 trillion

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request in this way . is yet another

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missed opportunity to put key aspects

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of our common defense . On a stronger

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and more enduring fiscal footing .

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Specifically the Air Force and the

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Space Force , a few observations .

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First , I'm encouraged to see the

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department acknowledge the need for the

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E-7 wedge shale airborne battle

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management aircraft . This platform

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meets the current day need with the

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current day capability . And the

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department's alignment with this

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priority is a welcome investment . And

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resiliency as we continue to build our

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space-based capabilities that will

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serve our joint force in the future .

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Also glad to see the fiscal year 27

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requests begin to address the issue of

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operational readiness rates by

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investing more in F-35 spares .

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But the department will continue to

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step on its own tail if it insists in

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housing procurement with new airframes ,

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primarily in one-off reconciliation

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spending . If fielding the

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F-35 remains an operational necessity .

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Both for the United States and for our

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allies , there's really no excuse for

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not placing it squarely in fully

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appropriations . So General Salman ,

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I'm glad that we , this request

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represents a massive opportunity for

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Space Force procurement . Of key

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systems . But I worry whether

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industrial capacity will be able to

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meet a sudden surge in spending .

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Painting a clearer picture of how the

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department plans to sustain .

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steadily increasing investment in the

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out years . So I want to hear from all

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of you how the Space Force is thinking

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about long-term scaling .

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Finally , at a fundamental level , I'm

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curious to hear from each of you about

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how the Department of the Air Force is

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applying the lessons of the modern

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battlefield . I'm concerned that the

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Pentagon as a whole is not learning

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quickly enough . From the battlefields

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in Ukraine and the Gulf .

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And failure to learn and adapt ,

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particularly when it comes to force

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protection . And counter drone

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technology . Has real and measurable

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cost . Speaking of which , there's

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clearly a need for supplemental funds

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to cover critical operational costs

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incurred in the Gulf . To recapture

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readiness to make serious down payments

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against the munitions shortfalls that

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long predate operations against Iran .

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So I would encourage the administration

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to create such an opportunity and would

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hope each of our colleagues . would

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seize on him With that ,

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following Senator Coons's

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observations . We'll , um

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Move to Mr . Secretary , the two

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generals . You'll make short statements

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and leave plenty of time for question

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and answer . Senator Coons , thank you ,

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Mr . Chairman , um , and thank you for

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our partnership and broad agreement

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among many of the themes that you just

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raised . You'll hear them reflected in

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my opening remarks as well . Um ,

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Secretary Mink , General Wellsbach ,

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General Saltzman , um , thank you , uh ,

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for your service and for your testimony

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here today . The Air Force and Space

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Force are fortunate . To be led by the

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three of you who continue to display a

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good judgment and a sincere interest in

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doing right by our nation . Uh , I'd

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like to note this is General

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Wellsbach's first time testifying , uh ,

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as Chief of Staff of the Air Force .

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Thank you in advance for your insights

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today , and I'll note , as did the

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Chairman , that this is General

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Saltzman's last testimony before the

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subcommittee , uh , ahead of your

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expected retirement in August after

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more than 35 years of service . Salty ,

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I'm not sure you'll miss any of us ,

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but we will certainly miss you . Um ,

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thank you , um , to you and your family ,

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uh , for the sacrifices you've made for

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our nation over so many years , uh ,

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and I look forward to your last nuggets

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of wisdom today , uh , and in the weeks

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ahead . Um , over the past year , our

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airmen , airwomen , and guardians have

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operated under immense operational

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pressure around the world , uh , most ,

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most notably in the Middle East , uh ,

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in support of several operations and

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currently Operation Epic Fury . Uh ,

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tragically , uh , several of our air

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crews , uh , have paid the ultimate

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sacrifice , the ultimate price during

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this operation , and Dover Air Force

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Base , uh , continues to carry out , um ,

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with honor , uh , its sacred duty , uh ,

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to welcome home our fallen , uh , and

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to support and sustain their families ,

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uh , at dignified transfer ceremonies .

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Um , as I've noted at previous hearings ,

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our service members always answer the

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call and operate with immense

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professionalism and at the highest

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level of any military in the world . Um ,

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but it is also demonstrably the case

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these current operations and recent

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operations have strained readiness , uh ,

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sharply reduced important munitions

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inventories , and weakened our hand to

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respond to tomorrow's threats . It's an

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indisputable fact we have fewer

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available aircraft and munitions to

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respond to future threats . In the

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Indo-Pacific as a result ,

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responsibility for the decision to take

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us to war rests with the president who

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chose this war without a clearly

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articulated strategy in place .

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Congress also bears responsibility for

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allowing it to continue and to drift ,

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although I am grateful for members on

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both sides who are sincerely interested

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in working to reclaim Congress's

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constitutional authority . Today , um ,

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the Air Force and Space Force , um ,

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continue with long-standing

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modernization and readiness issues that

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predated Operation Epic Fury . I look

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forward to hearing how this year's

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budget request attempts to address

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those issues while in the context of

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this new war . I would love to hear how

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our defense industrial base is working

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to change behavior , uh , to help

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produce on time and on budget . Um ,

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can it keep up with the increased

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demand signal that this budget sends

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and how do we bring new players , new

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manufacturers into an arena , uh , once

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dominated by just a few big primes . Uh ,

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as the chairman and I have pointed out

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at each of our hearings this year ,

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this entire subcommittee supports

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Ukraine strongly , not only on the

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merits , but also for the critical

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lessons we can learn from them and from

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collaboration and partnership . Ukraine

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is the world's most complex operational

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military environment right now . It

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sits at the cutting edge of air warfare

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and industrial base ingenuity . Low

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cost cruise missiles first used by

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Ukraine are making their way into the

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Air Force budget , and I look forward

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to hearing more about additional

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efforts like this . Uh , nevertheless ,

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plenty in our traditional Air Force and

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Space Force needs improvement . Our

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F-35s today sit around 56% mission

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capable , in part due to low spare

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parts availability . The new F-15 EXs

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are years delayed coming off the

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production line . Um , the department

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has been . Unwilling or unable to speak

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with clarity on the need to upgrade our

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aging airborne early warning and

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control fleet , delaying development

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and delivery of the new E7 um through

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budget malpractice last year , and I

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hope we will move forward and resolve

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that . I also remain concerned about

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key munitions , particularly given that

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a large portion of epic fury has been

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conducted using air to ground and air

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to air munitions . The administration

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has at times , um , talked in competing

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ways , with one breath insisting our

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current operational tempo is risk-free

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and in the next requesting billions for

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additional vital munitions . This

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subcommittee will work to do the right

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thing , protect American lives , ensure

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that our defense is adequately funded ,

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but we also need candor from the

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administration in discussing shortfalls

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and limitations . The Department of the

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Air Force is requesting nearly $100

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billion in the defense discretionary

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budget from $257 enacted to $351

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billion that we're evaluating here

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today . We need and our nation deserves

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a modern air force prepared to protect

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our interests . I'm pleased to see the

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budget request for the Space Force is

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increasing , reflecting the number of

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key missions you're tasked with , but

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I'd note for my colleagues this request

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is challenging to defend . Uh , in , in

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the face of steep reductions , agencies

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across the government are facing this

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fiscal year , the department put

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forward yet another bifurcated request ,

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as the chairman also reflected ,

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counting on reconciliation that has

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proven , uh , to be an unworkable way

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to sustainably budget for base needs

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for our military . The request places

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critical resources . Multi-year

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munitions procurements , spare parts

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for the F-35 program , key missile

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defense space programs into a

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reconciliation package that I doubt

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will ever be enacted . I look forward

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to a better understanding how this

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request supports the Air Force and what

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adjustments you would recommend if that

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funding does not come through . Turning

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to the space domain , as we've

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discussed , General Saltzman , the

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Space Force is in the process of

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standing up each of the pillars it

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needs in its approach . Your emphasis

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on understanding space as a war

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fighting domain and on space control is

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a critical and valued shift . At the

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same time , we can't lose sight of your

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core enabling missions in providing GPS ,

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satellite communications , imagery ,

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and intelligence . Without those things ,

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the joint force could have a very bad

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day . To accomplish all these missions ,

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we're lucky to have a dynamic space

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industrial base , but it is still

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fragile . And continuing to sole source

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big contracts to one vendor might

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profoundly harm that competition and be

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a serious mistake for our long-term

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interests . So , as we review your

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budget request , I'll be looking for

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fostering competition using multiple

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providers , requiring open standards

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and architecture , and broadening and

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deepening the industrial base by giving

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new entrants a meaningful opportunity

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and encouraging more capacity and

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diversity in sub-tier providers . In

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conclusion . The Air Force and Space

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Force provide critical foundational

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capabilities to our nation in defending

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the United States . This year , more

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than most , this subcommittee

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understands and must understand your

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goals in building this budget , whether

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or not it's realistic to grow this fast .

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Uh , and the smartest ways to

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reprioritize your budgets in the case

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that reconciliation does not occur .

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Thank you very much , Mr . Chairman . I

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look forward to the testimony . Thank

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you , Senator Coons . Gentlemen , why

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don't we go ahead in the order that I

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suggested , starting with you , Mr .

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Secretary , if you could make it as

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brief as possible because a lot of

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members want to ask questions right

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ahead . Uh , Chairman McConnell , uh ,

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Ryoons , uh , Chairman Collins , and

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distinguished members of the committee ,

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thanks for the opportunity to come down

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and talk about the FY 27 budget request .

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So I'm proud to represent the 680,000

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airmen , guardians , and civilians of

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the Department of the Air Force , as

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well as their family and their loved

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ones . After the events of the past

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years , Operation Midne Hammer ,

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Absolute Resolve , Eva Curry , I don't

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think anyone doubts that our Air Force

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and Space Force are the most capable in

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the world . But today we are in the

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middle of a generational shift in how

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we employ air power and space power ,

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uh , advances in autonomy , adaptive

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manufacturing , AI , microelectronics ,

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and more gives a unique opportunity to

14:08.006 --> 14:09.672
drive down costs and drive up

14:09.672 --> 14:11.506
effectiveness across the board .

14:11.506 --> 14:13.506
However , our adversaries recognize

14:13.506 --> 14:15.617
that opportunity every bit as much as

14:15.617 --> 14:17.172
we do . Those adversaries ,

14:17.172 --> 14:19.394
particularly China , are modernizing at

14:19.394 --> 14:21.561
a very rapid pace . To stay ahead , we

14:21.561 --> 14:23.783
must innovate faster in everything that

14:23.783 --> 14:25.783
we do . That means staying ready to

14:25.783 --> 14:28.061
fight tonight , next month , next year ,

14:28.061 --> 14:30.228
next decade . Unfortunately , the past

14:30.228 --> 14:32.394
25 years , the DAS budget has been the

14:32.394 --> 14:34.728
smallest relative to GDP in the history .

14:34.728 --> 14:36.894
Uh , at the same time , the nation has

14:36.894 --> 14:38.894
asked more of it . Uh , to meet its

14:38.894 --> 14:41.006
mission's needs , needs , the DAF was

14:41.006 --> 14:43.228
forced to shortchange both foundational

14:43.228 --> 14:45.561
readiness and much needed modernization .

14:45.561 --> 14:47.728
The fiscal year 2027 , the president's

14:47.728 --> 14:49.617
budget breaks that pattern with a

14:49.617 --> 14:51.739
$338.8 billion dollar request for the

14:51.739 --> 14:54.760
DAFF , a 34% increase from last year .

14:55.260 --> 14:57.427
I'll start with our investments to win

14:57.427 --> 14:59.260
the fight tonight . Foundational

14:59.260 --> 15:01.482
readiness . Boosting readiness requires

15:01.482 --> 15:03.204
increased and stable funding ,

15:03.204 --> 15:05.316
particularly given the age of many of

15:05.316 --> 15:07.179
our platforms . The FY 27 budget

15:07.179 --> 15:09.659
request increases our foundational

15:09.659 --> 15:12.299
readiness investment by 34% , providing

15:12.299 --> 15:14.359
the jump needed to truly recover .

15:14.780 --> 15:16.891
We're also looking at ways to operate

15:16.891 --> 15:18.724
more efficiently by accelerating

15:18.724 --> 15:20.891
decision making , reducing barriers to

15:20.891 --> 15:22.891
entry for industry , and leveraging

15:22.891 --> 15:24.947
innovative contract structures . The

15:24.947 --> 15:27.002
DAF's lean budget over the years has

15:27.002 --> 15:28.724
also resulted in a $50 billion

15:28.724 --> 15:30.859
facilities maintenance backlog . This

15:30.859 --> 15:32.581
is compounded by the way we've

15:32.581 --> 15:34.692
tradition in Milon , which results in

15:34.692 --> 15:36.915
cost , which results in costs more than

15:36.915 --> 15:38.581
double that of the commercial

15:38.581 --> 15:40.748
construction world . To reverse this ,

15:40.748 --> 15:42.748
the FYT . 27 budget requests nearly

15:42.748 --> 15:44.914
doubles investments in both MLCO and

15:44.914 --> 15:46.970
facility sustainment restoration and

15:46.970 --> 15:49.755
modernization which when coupled with

15:49.755 --> 15:51.811
the new authorities granted to us by

15:51.811 --> 15:53.533
Congress , thank you , such as

15:53.533 --> 15:55.644
progressive design build will address

15:55.644 --> 15:57.533
the will address the shortfalls .

15:57.594 --> 15:59.705
Second , production , particularly of

15:59.705 --> 16:01.650
munitions . While we retain enough

16:01.650 --> 16:03.650
munitions worldwide to meet mission

16:03.650 --> 16:05.872
needs , we need strong factory lines to

16:05.872 --> 16:07.927
sustain and bolster our stockpiles .

16:07.929 --> 16:09.818
Therefore , this budget leverages

16:09.818 --> 16:12.040
existing commercial production capacity

16:12.040 --> 16:14.207
and takes full advantage of multi-year

16:14.207 --> 16:16.096
procurement for our most critical

16:16.096 --> 16:18.262
munitions , totaling 39,000 weapons of

16:18.262 --> 16:21.099
all types by FY 33 . We are also

16:21.099 --> 16:23.460
developing weapons almost as capable as

16:23.460 --> 16:25.627
our high ammunitions but at a fraction

16:25.627 --> 16:27.500
of the cost and with much higher

16:27.500 --> 16:29.722
production rates . I'll note that while

16:29.722 --> 16:32.000
the money in this request is essential ,

16:32.000 --> 16:34.056
time is our most precious resource ,

16:34.056 --> 16:35.889
and the department will focus on

16:35.889 --> 16:38.056
companies that can scale quickly while

16:38.056 --> 16:40.167
still broadening the industry base to

16:40.167 --> 16:42.389
ensure competition in the future . That

16:42.389 --> 16:44.556
leads me to number 3 , modernization .

16:44.556 --> 16:46.611
The DAFF is currently engaged in the

16:46.611 --> 16:48.667
broadest program of modernization in

16:48.667 --> 16:50.833
its history . Well , not every program

16:50.833 --> 16:53.056
has been perfect , we have already seen

16:53.056 --> 16:54.722
a lot of success with our new

16:54.722 --> 16:56.889
proliferated space architectures , the

16:56.889 --> 16:58.889
collaborative combat aircraft , the

16:58.889 --> 17:01.000
F-47 B-21 , our command and control ,

17:01.000 --> 17:03.111
and our data management systems . The

17:03.111 --> 17:04.889
FY-27 request accelerates those

17:04.889 --> 17:06.889
successes . Implies lessons learned

17:06.889 --> 17:09.285
from them across the board . To that

17:09.285 --> 17:10.952
end , we are transforming our

17:10.952 --> 17:13.063
acquisition system . We're empowering

17:13.063 --> 17:14.729
our new portfolio acquisition

17:14.729 --> 17:16.824
executives and their teams with the

17:16.824 --> 17:19.046
authorities , resources and talent they

17:19.046 --> 17:21.324
need to accelerate capability delivery .

17:21.420 --> 17:23.142
We have delegated nearly every

17:23.142 --> 17:25.309
authority we are legally allowed to do

17:25.309 --> 17:28.140
so down to the PAEs . We are realigning

17:28.140 --> 17:30.307
portfolios to match mission outcomes .

17:30.307 --> 17:32.380
Our end state is all DA acquisitions

17:32.380 --> 17:34.780
aligned within the PAE structure to

17:34.780 --> 17:36.836
ensure consistent , simplified , and

17:36.836 --> 17:39.002
rapid decision making across the Space

17:39.002 --> 17:41.224
Force and the Air Force . Finally , our

17:41.224 --> 17:43.224
most decisive advantage remains our

17:43.224 --> 17:45.336
people , the airmen and guardians who

17:45.336 --> 17:47.502
make everything possible . This budget

17:47.502 --> 17:49.669
invests in them . This includes a 5 to

17:49.669 --> 17:51.891
7% pay increase , larger bonus pools to

17:51.891 --> 17:54.113
incentivize high performing civilians ,

17:54.113 --> 17:56.391
and increases in military and strength ,

17:56.391 --> 17:58.224
and a 300% increase in dormitory

17:58.224 --> 18:00.169
investments . In conclusion , this

18:00.169 --> 18:01.947
budget represents a disciplined

18:01.947 --> 18:04.169
strategy to meet our threat . While the

18:04.169 --> 18:06.680
FY 27 budget represents a major

18:06.680 --> 18:08.859
increase in our budget , we are ready

18:08.859 --> 18:11.479
to execute . Much of the new funding

18:11.479 --> 18:13.535
will accelerate mature programs with

18:13.535 --> 18:15.680
established contracts . Regardless of

18:15.680 --> 18:17.719
the final total , we will remain

18:17.719 --> 18:19.941
accountable and transparent to Congress

18:19.941 --> 18:22.163
and the American taxpayer . Thank you ,

18:22.163 --> 18:24.330
and I look forward to your questions .

18:31.459 --> 18:33.737
Good morning , uh , Chairman McConnell ,

18:33.737 --> 18:35.959
Ranking Member of Coons , distinguished

18:35.959 --> 18:38.181
members of the Committee . I'm proud to

18:38.181 --> 18:40.300
represent 665,000 total force airmen

18:40.300 --> 18:43.089
serving our nation . Thank you for the

18:43.089 --> 18:45.256
opportunity to appear before you today

18:45.349 --> 18:47.939
and your continued support to airmen

18:47.939 --> 18:50.106
and their families . The United States

18:50.106 --> 18:52.272
Air Force exists to provide the nation

18:52.272 --> 18:54.729
with decisive options at both speed and

18:54.729 --> 18:57.829
scale . Every day , our airmen deliver

18:58.130 --> 19:00.408
that capability by controlling the air ,

19:00.408 --> 19:02.630
holding targets at risk , moving forces

19:02.630 --> 19:04.630
and supplies across the globe , and

19:04.630 --> 19:07.609
underpinning the joint force with these

19:07.609 --> 19:10.489
combined efforts . As illustrated in

19:10.489 --> 19:12.489
recent operations such as Operation

19:12.489 --> 19:14.545
Midnight Hammer , Absolute Resolve ,

19:14.545 --> 19:16.045
and Epic Fury , they do it

19:16.045 --> 19:18.439
professionally . And without pause . We

19:18.439 --> 19:20.290
operate in an environment where

19:20.290 --> 19:22.729
distance no longer guarantees sanctuary ,

19:23.119 --> 19:24.849
Networks are contested , and

19:24.849 --> 19:27.050
adversaries are fielding capabilities

19:27.050 --> 19:28.890
specifically designed to deny us

19:28.890 --> 19:31.219
advantages we've relied on before .

19:31.689 --> 19:35.050
That reality drives our focus toward

19:35.050 --> 19:37.400
three priorities readiness ,

19:37.530 --> 19:39.689
modernization , and taking care of

19:39.689 --> 19:42.680
airmen and their families . Readiness

19:42.680 --> 19:45.599
is the ability to generate combat power

19:45.599 --> 19:47.760
quickly , operate in contested

19:47.760 --> 19:49.871
environments , and sustain operations

19:49.871 --> 19:51.880
over time . Today , our airmen are

19:51.880 --> 19:55.619
meeting the mission . But are always

19:55.619 --> 19:57.619
doing so while managing significant

19:57.619 --> 19:59.841
strain . We are flying aircraft that in

19:59.841 --> 20:01.969
many cases are older than airmen who

20:01.969 --> 20:04.500
maintain them . We are operating at a

20:04.500 --> 20:06.699
high operations tempo across multiple

20:06.699 --> 20:09.459
theaters and doing so while preparing

20:09.459 --> 20:11.699
to be ready for any future conflict .

20:12.199 --> 20:15.280
Our fiscal year 2027 budget request

20:15.280 --> 20:17.599
prioritizes restoring depth to our

20:17.599 --> 20:19.766
force by increasing funding for flying

20:19.766 --> 20:21.877
hours , munitions , and maintenance ,

20:22.079 --> 20:24.301
and advanced training that reflects the

20:24.301 --> 20:26.739
reality of today and tomorrow's fight .

20:27.239 --> 20:29.760
Weapons system sustainment funding

20:29.760 --> 20:32.599
increased to over $24 billion and

20:32.599 --> 20:34.959
flying hours to nearly $10 billion . We

20:34.959 --> 20:37.619
are focused on readiness that continues

20:37.839 --> 20:40.020
to remain credible and can deliver .

20:40.489 --> 20:43.930
Effects . Modernization is not only

20:43.930 --> 20:46.250
about replacing old platforms with new

20:46.250 --> 20:48.194
ones , but evolving how we fight .

20:48.770 --> 20:50.890
Speed , survivability , and decision

20:50.890 --> 20:53.390
advantage will define future conflict .

20:53.689 --> 20:56.209
It requires a force that is more

20:56.209 --> 20:58.729
connected and adaptable . To this end ,

20:58.810 --> 21:00.890
we are increasing our research and

21:00.890 --> 21:04.609
development funding by 27% to over 57

21:04.609 --> 21:07.869
billion . The fiscal year 2027 budget

21:07.869 --> 21:09.425
request will accelerate our

21:09.425 --> 21:11.202
modernization programs . We are

21:11.202 --> 21:13.258
advancing the F-47 and collaborative

21:13.258 --> 21:15.480
combat aircraft to increase combat mass

21:15.599 --> 21:18.030
and complicate adversary targeting . We

21:18.030 --> 21:20.252
are upgrading our current fighter fleet

21:20.252 --> 21:22.419
to ensure it remains viable while also

21:22.419 --> 21:24.252
investing in long-range strike ,

21:24.560 --> 21:26.504
advanced munitions , and resilient

21:26.504 --> 21:28.589
command and control . Additionally ,

21:28.750 --> 21:30.472
our nuclear enterprise remains

21:30.472 --> 21:32.589
foundational . Investments now will

21:32.589 --> 21:35.349
sustain the modernization of the Triad

21:35.750 --> 21:38.020
through the Sentinel B-21 radar and

21:38.020 --> 21:40.420
upgrades to the B-52 and the E-4B .

21:40.729 --> 21:42.829
These capabilities ensure that our

21:42.829 --> 21:45.051
deterrence remains credible and ready .

21:45.459 --> 21:47.403
Third is taking care of airmen and

21:47.403 --> 21:49.626
families . We ask a lot of our people ,

21:49.819 --> 21:51.939
frequent moves and operational stress

21:51.939 --> 21:54.300
take a toll . Our Air Force continues

21:54.300 --> 21:56.459
to invest in improving options for

21:56.459 --> 21:58.859
healthcare , childcare , and spouse

21:58.859 --> 22:01.209
employment . Therefore , our budget

22:01.209 --> 22:03.410
request strengthens quality of life .

22:03.739 --> 22:06.099
We are executing the largest investment

22:06.099 --> 22:08.770
in our dormitories in over a decade of

22:08.770 --> 22:11.930
$2.7 billion in FSRM and

22:11.930 --> 22:15.180
$330 million in MLCO for a total of $3

22:15.180 --> 22:17.347
billion . We are looking for solutions

22:17.347 --> 22:19.458
to meet housing needs to our families

22:19.458 --> 22:21.890
with a request of 1.3 billion while

22:21.890 --> 22:24.430
funding new construction projects to

22:24.430 --> 22:27.109
address childcare capacity shortfalls ,

22:27.300 --> 22:30.390
shortfalls by adding over 1700

22:30.390 --> 22:33.229
additional childcare spaces . The Air

22:33.229 --> 22:35.319
Force exists to be the best possible

22:35.319 --> 22:37.430
fighting force for our nation . We're

22:37.430 --> 22:39.652
building a force that can operate under

22:39.652 --> 22:41.763
pressure and deliver effects anywhere

22:41.763 --> 22:44.550
in the world . That requires sustained

22:44.550 --> 22:46.717
investment , disciplined choices , and

22:46.717 --> 22:48.930
an unwavering focus on our people .

22:49.229 --> 22:51.451
With your support , we will ensure they

22:51.451 --> 22:53.451
have the tools , training , and the

22:53.451 --> 22:55.618
backing they need . Thank you . I look

22:55.618 --> 22:59.540
forward to your questions . Thank

22:59.540 --> 23:01.484
you , Chairman McConnell , Ranking

23:01.484 --> 23:03.707
Member Koons , distinguished members of

23:03.707 --> 23:05.651
the committee . Thank you for your

23:05.651 --> 23:04.939
support for the Space Force and our

23:04.939 --> 23:07.260
nation's guardians . As the past year

23:07.260 --> 23:09.427
has demonstrated , space is more vital

23:09.427 --> 23:11.593
than ever to our economic prosperity ,

23:11.593 --> 23:13.371
our national security , and the

23:13.371 --> 23:15.316
effectiveness of the joint force .

23:15.316 --> 23:16.982
However , our adversaries are

23:16.982 --> 23:18.982
constantly working to take away our

23:18.982 --> 23:20.982
military and economic advantages in

23:20.982 --> 23:22.704
space . To defend our nation's

23:22.704 --> 23:24.760
interests in space , the Space Force

23:24.760 --> 23:26.982
must do more than grow . We must evolve

23:26.982 --> 23:29.260
to meet the challenges of this new era .

23:29.260 --> 23:31.093
To that end , the FY 27 budget's

23:31.093 --> 23:33.149
landmark investment of $71.1 billion

23:33.149 --> 23:34.982
for the Space Force represents a

23:34.982 --> 23:37.038
generational opportunity to position

23:37.038 --> 23:39.260
the force to meet the rapidly expanding

23:39.260 --> 23:41.482
threats and demands of the nation . And

23:41.482 --> 23:43.482
I know some of the budget increases

23:43.482 --> 23:45.704
being considered to sound big , but the

23:45.704 --> 23:47.704
Space Force budget in comparison to

23:47.704 --> 23:47.550
other services will still be less than

23:47.550 --> 23:50.060
5% of our nation's total military

23:50.060 --> 23:52.579
spending , an extraordinary value and

23:52.579 --> 23:54.690
return on investment for the nation .

23:54.709 --> 23:56.653
That investment is critical , is a

23:56.653 --> 23:58.542
critical down payment to meet the

23:58.542 --> 24:00.653
accelerating demands on the service .

24:00.653 --> 24:02.876
In 2025 , the Space Force saw a drastic

24:02.876 --> 24:05.098
increase in mission requirements across

24:05.098 --> 24:06.765
space access , global mission

24:06.765 --> 24:08.820
operations , and space control , and

24:08.820 --> 24:10.987
this trend shows no signs of slowing .

24:10.987 --> 24:12.820
To position the service for this

24:12.820 --> 24:14.876
mission growth and inform our future

24:14.876 --> 24:16.709
needs , the Space Force has been

24:16.709 --> 24:16.670
working hard to define what we believe

24:17.089 --> 24:19.200
our future operating environment will

24:19.200 --> 24:21.367
look like over the next 15 years , and

24:21.367 --> 24:23.256
then designed our objective force

24:23.256 --> 24:24.978
structure to meet the nation's

24:24.978 --> 24:27.089
expanding needs . That analysis makes

24:27.089 --> 24:29.033
it clear , the Space Force we have

24:29.033 --> 24:31.089
today is not the Space force we will

24:31.089 --> 24:33.200
need in the future . Increases in the

24:33.200 --> 24:35.422
service's budget and end strength are a

24:35.422 --> 24:37.589
national security imperative . That is

24:37.589 --> 24:39.589
why the FY 27 budget boosts our top

24:39.589 --> 24:41.700
line by 130% . And our in strength by

24:41.700 --> 24:44.359
27% . The proposed budget paired with

24:44.359 --> 24:46.581
this increase in in strength will allow

24:46.581 --> 24:48.637
the Space Force to recruit and train

24:48.637 --> 24:50.637
the guardians we need , build vital

24:50.637 --> 24:52.803
space capabilities for the joint force

24:52.803 --> 24:55.026
in the nation , and provide the support

24:55.026 --> 24:57.026
and infrastructure that the mission

24:57.026 --> 25:00.040
growth demands . In order to execute

25:00.040 --> 25:02.151
all of our expanding missions , it is

25:02.151 --> 25:04.096
imperative that we responsibly and

25:04.096 --> 25:06.040
effectively convert this increased

25:06.040 --> 25:08.096
appropriation into combat capability

25:08.096 --> 25:10.262
and warfighting advantage . Unlike the

25:10.262 --> 25:12.318
other services , the majority of our

25:12.318 --> 25:14.429
budget , nearly 2/3 , is dedicated to

25:14.429 --> 25:16.429
developing and fielding new systems

25:16.429 --> 25:18.596
instead of personnel or operations and

25:18.596 --> 25:20.818
maintenance . And that is why the Space

25:20.818 --> 25:23.040
Force is so focused on taking advantage

25:23.040 --> 25:23.020
of this once-in a-generation

25:23.020 --> 25:25.187
opportunity to enhance our acquisition

25:25.187 --> 25:27.020
processes , all with the goal of

25:27.020 --> 25:28.964
accelerating the fielding of vital

25:28.964 --> 25:31.076
combat space systems at the speed and

25:31.076 --> 25:33.131
scale required for each mission . To

25:33.131 --> 25:35.187
that end , newly empowered portfolio

25:35.187 --> 25:37.298
acquisition executives are positioned

25:37.298 --> 25:39.187
to make better and faster program

25:39.187 --> 25:41.131
trades , expediting our ability to

25:41.131 --> 25:43.076
deliver combat credible systems on

25:43.076 --> 25:45.020
operationally relevant timelines .

25:45.020 --> 25:46.909
We're simplifying our approach to

25:46.909 --> 25:48.576
requirements , bolstering our

25:48.576 --> 25:50.464
relationships with industry , and

25:50.464 --> 25:50.349
ensuring our vital guardian workforce

25:50.349 --> 25:52.670
is expertly trained in the complex task

25:52.670 --> 25:55.310
of acquisitions . Unlike other services

25:55.310 --> 25:57.532
that are modernizing existing systems ,

25:57.532 --> 25:59.643
the Space Force cannot modernize what

25:59.643 --> 26:01.866
it does not have . We are creating some

26:01.866 --> 26:04.032
of the innovative capabilities for new

26:04.032 --> 26:05.699
missions from the ground up ,

26:05.699 --> 26:07.810
particularly in space control , where

26:07.810 --> 26:09.921
we are investing in all categories of

26:09.921 --> 26:12.088
counterpace systems necessary to deter

26:12.088 --> 26:13.921
and defeat aggression in space .

26:13.921 --> 26:15.866
Additionally , we are aggressively

26:15.866 --> 26:15.839
pursuing more resilience space

26:15.839 --> 26:17.672
architectures that can withstand

26:17.672 --> 26:19.895
attacks and continue to operate through

26:19.895 --> 26:22.079
extended conflict . But the added

26:22.079 --> 26:24.135
manpower , missions and capabilities

26:24.135 --> 26:26.246
require commensurate increases in the

26:26.246 --> 26:28.357
structures that support them . So the

26:28.357 --> 26:30.301
FY 27 budget request also includes

26:30.301 --> 26:32.468
required MLCon to ensure our guardians

26:32.468 --> 26:34.579
are fully supported . The Space Force

26:34.579 --> 26:36.857
has laid the organizational foundation ,

26:36.857 --> 26:38.912
defined the compounding threat , and

26:38.912 --> 26:40.912
delivered the blueprint required to

26:40.912 --> 26:42.968
counter it . Now we must build those

26:42.968 --> 26:45.135
structures and systems to ensure space

26:45.135 --> 26:47.301
advantage for years to come . Although

26:47.301 --> 26:46.930
our growth request looks large in a

26:46.930 --> 26:49.130
vacuum , the request is actually quite

26:49.130 --> 26:51.297
small relative to the overall budget .

26:51.297 --> 26:53.130
With the continued advocacy from

26:53.130 --> 26:55.352
Congress , our guardians stand ready to

26:55.352 --> 26:57.074
deter aggression , protect our

26:57.074 --> 26:59.019
space-enabled way of life , and if

26:59.019 --> 27:00.963
called upon , fight and win . As I

27:00.963 --> 27:03.130
conclude my final presentation to this

27:03.130 --> 27:05.297
committee as the CSO , um , let me say

27:05.297 --> 27:07.352
thank you for enabling our successes

27:07.352 --> 27:09.519
and for the opportunities to highlight

27:09.519 --> 27:11.741
the exceptional work that our guardians

27:11.741 --> 27:11.479
are doing every day to secure our

27:11.479 --> 27:13.590
nation's interests in , from , and to

27:13.590 --> 27:15.312
space . I look forward to your

27:15.312 --> 27:16.312
questions .

27:23.319 --> 27:25.859
Mr . Secretary , a year ago ,

27:26.819 --> 27:29.959
Ukraine's Operation Spider Web .

27:30.839 --> 27:34.339
Employed cheap drones to destroy

27:34.680 --> 27:38.430
20 Russian military aircraft . Sitting

27:38.430 --> 27:42.130
on the tarmac . Deep inside

27:42.560 --> 27:45.939
Russian territory . They've conducted

27:45.939 --> 27:48.800
regular long range drone strikes .

27:50.810 --> 27:53.439
Deep Into Russian territory .

27:55.420 --> 27:57.698
Switching to another part of the world .

27:58.599 --> 28:01.310
Earlier this year , Iran struck 5

28:01.310 --> 28:05.280
KC-135 and 1 E3 on the ground at Prince

28:05.280 --> 28:09.260
Sultan Air Force Base . In Saudi Arabia

28:10.189 --> 28:13.969
In drone and missile attacks . Iran has

28:13.969 --> 28:17.420
also struck US targets . And gutter .

28:18.589 --> 28:19.589
And in Iran .

28:28.430 --> 28:31.329
So why has the US military been so slow

28:31.910 --> 28:33.939
to adapt to the changing nature of

28:33.939 --> 28:37.329
warfare ? What is the Air Force

28:37.329 --> 28:40.329
doing to harden facilities and defend

28:40.329 --> 28:43.540
against drones at home ? And abroad .

28:48.760 --> 28:50.927
Uh , thank you , Mr . Chairman . I , I

28:50.927 --> 28:53.149
agree with you . It's , it's one minute

28:53.149 --> 28:52.479
longer .

28:57.010 --> 28:58.732
Also , I think everyone on the

28:58.732 --> 29:00.677
subcommittee agrees with Secretary

29:00.677 --> 29:03.670
Drisel's assessment that Ukraine is the

29:04.650 --> 29:07.349
Silicon Valley of warfare , end quote .

29:08.719 --> 29:11.079
Have you instructed any senior Air

29:11.079 --> 29:13.800
Force leaders to visit Ukraine to

29:13.800 --> 29:17.479
identify lessons and technologies for

29:17.479 --> 29:19.280
the Air Force to apply ?

29:25.579 --> 29:28.349
Um , I , I've not instructed anybody to

29:28.349 --> 29:30.469
visit Ukraine , but , uh , the teams

29:30.469 --> 29:32.691
are either visiting Ukraine or visiting

29:32.691 --> 29:34.580
manufacturers that are supporting

29:34.580 --> 29:36.913
Ukraine , or I'm actually going to , uh ,

29:36.913 --> 29:39.709
UCO , uh , in a week or so to , to

29:39.709 --> 29:41.765
again get more information on what's

29:41.765 --> 29:44.098
going on over there as well . Uh , so I ,

29:44.098 --> 29:46.209
I think we're , we're , we're , we're

29:46.209 --> 29:48.320
well , um , versed in what Ukrainians

29:48.320 --> 29:50.320
are doing and what the Russians are

29:50.320 --> 29:52.320
doing and , and the threats , and I

29:52.320 --> 29:52.189
agree with you , Mr . Chairman , that

29:52.569 --> 29:54.459
That this is one of the more

29:54.459 --> 29:56.570
significant threats , particularly in

29:56.570 --> 29:59.540
the COA , right , where we have to date

29:59.540 --> 30:01.660
treated those as sanctuary locations

30:01.660 --> 30:03.549
and have not done a lot to defend

30:03.549 --> 30:05.771
against them . Uh , but that's changing

30:05.771 --> 30:07.938
quickly . Uh , we're in the process of

30:07.938 --> 30:10.180
prioritize , prioritizing the bases and

30:10.180 --> 30:12.819
starting to field , uh , equipment . Uh ,

30:12.900 --> 30:15.122
I think in the order of 14 bases , uh ,

30:15.122 --> 30:17.178
we're , we're focused on in the near

30:17.178 --> 30:19.011
term . Uh , all the way from the

30:19.011 --> 30:21.219
command and control and the , the

30:21.219 --> 30:23.441
monitoring systems to do sensing around

30:23.441 --> 30:25.552
the base as well as various kinetic ,

30:25.552 --> 30:28.040
non-kinetic , um , and directed energy ,

30:28.219 --> 30:31.819
uh , uh , type weapons , uh , uh , that

30:31.819 --> 30:33.819
we're working closely with the Task

30:33.819 --> 30:36.410
Force 401 , which is , uh , requesting

30:36.410 --> 30:38.632
a significant increase in funding going

30:38.632 --> 30:40.819
forward to , to procure , uh , the

30:40.819 --> 30:42.986
various types of weapons systems going

30:42.986 --> 30:42.560
forward .

30:50.959 --> 30:52.880
Shifting to a different topic .

30:54.250 --> 30:57.819
Executing Operation Epic Fury required

30:57.819 --> 31:00.500
both the advanced buildup of combat

31:00.500 --> 31:04.410
power in theater . And sustainment

31:04.410 --> 31:08.000
flights and long range strike missions .

31:09.459 --> 31:11.459
I understand you couldn't have done

31:11.459 --> 31:14.270
this without the cooperation . With

31:14.270 --> 31:17.150
Europe And Gulf allies .

31:18.000 --> 31:21.579
On access , basing , and overflight .

31:24.109 --> 31:26.109
How would operational planning have

31:26.109 --> 31:28.220
been affected if you couldn't rely on

31:28.220 --> 31:30.189
the reach and force multipliers ?

31:31.130 --> 31:34.750
Provided by our friends in Europe . And

31:34.750 --> 31:37.989
the Gulf . There's been some suggestion .

31:39.140 --> 31:41.362
That our European allies aren't helping

31:41.362 --> 31:44.599
us in the area . I think that doesn't

31:44.599 --> 31:47.729
stand up against the facts . How much

31:47.729 --> 31:49.896
does the Air Force's ability to strike

31:49.896 --> 31:52.170
adversaries worldwide lean on access

31:52.170 --> 31:56.020
basing ? An overflight from allies

31:56.020 --> 31:58.540
and partners , would the airport be

31:58.540 --> 32:01.989
better off with less access ? To NATO

32:01.989 --> 32:05.719
countries . Uh ,

32:06.489 --> 32:09.729
absolutely not . Um , we , we can do

32:09.729 --> 32:11.618
have the ability to strike with ,

32:11.618 --> 32:14.199
without . Forward locations pretty much

32:14.199 --> 32:16.400
anywhere on the planet , but it is

32:16.400 --> 32:19.400
greatly facilitated by access to our

32:19.400 --> 32:21.622
allies and partners . I guess turn over

32:21.622 --> 32:23.567
to General Wolsbach for additional

32:23.567 --> 32:25.233
comments . It would certainly

32:25.233 --> 32:27.289
significantly limit our options , as

32:27.289 --> 32:29.067
Secretary said , we do have the

32:29.067 --> 32:32.219
capability from COIS or other

32:32.219 --> 32:34.880
territories that we have locations that

32:34.880 --> 32:36.824
are owned by the US to strike from

32:36.824 --> 32:38.991
those locations , but Um , if we don't

32:38.991 --> 32:41.158
have access basing and overflight into

32:41.158 --> 32:43.790
partner and allied countries , it , it

32:43.800 --> 32:46.569
greatly limits our ability to force

32:46.569 --> 32:50.560
project , uh , resupply , strike , etc .

32:52.839 --> 32:55.479
Sure could . Thank you , Mr . Chairman .

32:55.520 --> 32:57.849
I've 3 areas of questions I want to get

32:57.849 --> 32:59.849
through quickly if I can , low-cost

32:59.849 --> 33:01.682
cruise munitions , airbase drone

33:01.682 --> 33:03.689
defense , and CCA . Uh , I'll just

33:03.689 --> 33:05.800
follow up on the point , the chairman

33:05.800 --> 33:08.022
raised about uh base defense , as we've

33:08.022 --> 33:09.856
discussed , Mr . Secretary . The

33:09.856 --> 33:12.880
tragedy at Tower 22 showed me at least ,

33:12.890 --> 33:14.946
and I think many of us , the cost of

33:14.946 --> 33:16.890
neglecting critical investments in

33:16.890 --> 33:20.329
drone defense . Um , you referenced the

33:20.329 --> 33:22.218
partnership , uh , with the Joint

33:22.218 --> 33:24.760
Interagency Task Force 401 . Uh , are

33:24.760 --> 33:26.760
you confident each side knows their

33:26.760 --> 33:28.979
lanes in the road in this work , and ,

33:29.319 --> 33:31.541
uh , how is your work complementing the

33:31.541 --> 33:32.763
DOD-wide initiative ?

33:35.839 --> 33:39.040
I , I , I think we do understand , but

33:39.040 --> 33:42.280
it's , uh , it's a rapidly evolving ,

33:42.400 --> 33:44.344
uh , playing field , um , just how

33:44.344 --> 33:46.233
we're going to structure our base

33:46.233 --> 33:47.956
defense from an organizational

33:47.956 --> 33:49.789
perspective . Uh , we're working

33:49.789 --> 33:51.900
through quickly and I can have , uh ,

33:51.900 --> 33:54.011
Joe Wilsbach touch on that . Uh , but

33:54.011 --> 33:56.122
it's a rapidly changing field , but I

33:56.122 --> 33:55.400
think we have good relationships with

33:55.400 --> 33:57.579
them . Uh , I , I think we are laying

33:57.579 --> 33:59.801
out our priorities closely with them on

33:59.801 --> 34:01.912
what basis we're going to fill well .

34:01.912 --> 34:01.699
So I think that relationship is going

34:01.699 --> 34:04.900
well . Um , and so I think with , with

34:04.900 --> 34:07.260
the funding that's in the request , I

34:07.260 --> 34:09.371
think we should be able to fill a lot

34:09.371 --> 34:11.371
of the equipment fairly quickly . I

34:11.371 --> 34:13.093
recognize that you have a very

34:13.093 --> 34:14.982
difficult prioritization exercise

34:14.982 --> 34:17.204
between forward operating bases , fixed

34:17.204 --> 34:19.427
overseas installations , our homeland .

34:19.427 --> 34:21.538
Um , and as you answer , if you could

34:21.538 --> 34:24.469
just say , is there any authorities ,

34:24.969 --> 34:27.191
resources and support from Congress you

34:27.191 --> 34:29.247
need to get after this problem , and

34:29.247 --> 34:31.413
where are you most concerned we're not

34:31.413 --> 34:33.525
doing enough ? Uh , thank you for the

34:33.525 --> 34:35.691
support that you gave us in past years

34:35.691 --> 34:37.747
on the authorities , and I think the

34:37.747 --> 34:37.729
authorities are in a good spot , uh ,

34:37.739 --> 34:40.250
right now . Um , overseas , we have no

34:40.250 --> 34:42.399
limitations , uh , especially , uh ,

34:42.419 --> 34:44.641
where there's active combat happening .

34:44.641 --> 34:46.586
There's no authorities limitations

34:46.586 --> 34:48.641
there . In fact , the , the rules of

34:48.641 --> 34:50.808
engagement there are exactly where our

34:50.808 --> 34:53.086
warfighters would like them to be . Um ,

34:53.086 --> 34:55.252
in the COI , uh , we , we now have the

34:55.252 --> 34:57.419
authorities that we need to defend our

34:57.419 --> 34:56.939
bases , and so at the , at the current

34:56.939 --> 34:59.272
time , I don't suggest we , uh , change .

35:00.020 --> 35:02.131
Those authorities with respect to the

35:02.131 --> 35:04.076
question you ask of do people know

35:04.076 --> 35:06.353
where their lanes are ? Absolutely yes .

35:06.353 --> 35:08.300
We actually sit in on the JTF 401

35:08.300 --> 35:10.790
meetings and we take that back to the ,

35:11.050 --> 35:13.780
to the air staff and then can propagate

35:13.780 --> 35:17.189
the Air Force part of JTF 401 for our

35:17.189 --> 35:19.294
for our own means . The entire

35:19.294 --> 35:22.574
Department of War has about $10 billion

35:22.574 --> 35:26.014
in this 27 budget request uh for a

35:26.014 --> 35:28.754
counter uh drone , counter UAS

35:28.754 --> 35:30.865
technology , and um that , that'll be

35:30.865 --> 35:33.087
really important for us to bolster this

35:33.087 --> 35:35.715
year , uh , in the COAS , uh , we're

35:36.195 --> 35:39.840
gonna Stand up capabilities at 26 of

35:39.840 --> 35:42.173
our key installations for the Air Force .

35:42.173 --> 35:44.396
Previously that was 10 , so we're going

35:44.396 --> 35:46.562
to more than double that . Thank you .

35:46.562 --> 35:48.396
I do think this is an absolutely

35:48.396 --> 35:50.399
critical mission for all of us , as

35:50.399 --> 35:52.232
we've discussed , this committee

35:52.232 --> 35:54.010
strongly supports Ukraine . I'm

35:54.010 --> 35:56.177
encouraged to see the extendable range

35:56.177 --> 35:58.232
affordable missile , low cost , long

35:58.232 --> 36:00.120
range cruise missiles going into

36:00.120 --> 36:02.199
production , and I'd be interested

36:02.199 --> 36:04.421
briefly in what you think we've learned

36:04.421 --> 36:06.643
from the ERAM . Uh , whether the family

36:06.643 --> 36:08.866
of affordable mass missiles , uh , will

36:08.866 --> 36:11.032
be entering procurement and sufficient

36:11.032 --> 36:13.459
to meet our demand , uh , and General

36:13.459 --> 36:15.292
Will Spock , given your previous

36:15.292 --> 36:17.570
service in the Indo-Pacific , you know ,

36:17.570 --> 36:19.515
how will that help us in the China

36:19.515 --> 36:21.515
scenario and how do you plan to use

36:21.515 --> 36:23.570
variants with allies and partners in

36:23.570 --> 36:25.348
the region where the tyranny of

36:25.348 --> 36:27.459
distance makes co-production , really

36:27.459 --> 36:30.459
essential . So the FAAM missiles are on

36:30.459 --> 36:32.626
track to start production in September

36:32.626 --> 36:34.681
of this year , um , so that's good .

36:34.681 --> 36:37.209
What we've learned from seeing these

36:37.209 --> 36:39.265
not only in the Middle East but also

36:39.265 --> 36:41.376
from what's happening in Europe is we

36:41.376 --> 36:44.969
can see the value of mass , the

36:44.969 --> 36:47.530
ability to produce at a much higher

36:47.530 --> 36:49.889
rate that gives you that mass . I mean

36:49.889 --> 36:52.050
the mass is important because it

36:52.050 --> 36:55.330
complicates the The other side's

36:55.330 --> 36:57.552
defenses , they have to honor every one

36:57.552 --> 36:59.719
of those munitions , and when you have

36:59.850 --> 37:02.072
a lot of them , they , they will end up

37:02.072 --> 37:04.649
using their exquisite defenses to shoot

37:04.649 --> 37:06.871
those weapons down and eventually we're

37:06.871 --> 37:09.093
going to get some through . This , this

37:09.093 --> 37:11.205
is true in any theater that you might

37:11.205 --> 37:13.205
want to employ these to include the

37:13.205 --> 37:15.371
Pacific . I'll just reinforce what the

37:15.371 --> 37:17.593
chairman said about the lessons learned

37:17.593 --> 37:19.705
in Ukraine deserve your attention and

37:19.705 --> 37:21.927
engagement , and I'm encouraged by this

37:21.927 --> 37:24.260
production , and I'm hopeful that it'll .

37:24.260 --> 37:23.929
Uh , demonstrate that we're learning

37:23.929 --> 37:25.929
one of the key lessons of Ukraine .

37:25.929 --> 37:28.096
Last on the CCA program , if I might ,

37:28.096 --> 37:30.207
um , Mr . Secretary , this program is

37:30.207 --> 37:32.429
growing by over a billion dollars . I'm

37:32.429 --> 37:34.651
not yet convinced it'll be the low cost

37:34.651 --> 37:36.873
and a tradable platform . It's meant to

37:36.873 --> 37:39.096
be and recognize a lot of the detail we

37:39.096 --> 37:41.318
can't discuss here , but what steps are

37:41.318 --> 37:43.318
you taking to ensure this program's

37:43.318 --> 37:45.485
held to cost and schedule metrics that

37:45.485 --> 37:47.651
are solid . And how are you protecting

37:47.651 --> 37:49.762
against enthusiasm for the concept of

37:49.762 --> 37:51.985
operations , accidentally shielding the

37:51.985 --> 37:54.151
program from hard decisions , and then

37:54.151 --> 37:56.373
last , how will we integrate our allies

37:56.373 --> 37:58.651
into this program ? Uh , yeah , so the ,

37:58.651 --> 38:00.873
the , it's a really good news , right ?

38:00.873 --> 38:00.620
The , the platform is on schedule ,

38:00.719 --> 38:02.608
they're sticking to their , their

38:02.608 --> 38:04.275
budget targets , uh , and the

38:04.275 --> 38:06.330
performance is actually in many ways

38:06.330 --> 38:08.441
better than , than what we expected ,

38:08.441 --> 38:10.608
uh , with respect to keeping that cost

38:10.608 --> 38:12.219
down going forward , we have

38:12.219 --> 38:14.275
competition , we have open standards

38:14.560 --> 38:16.338
that allows to bring in several

38:16.338 --> 38:18.449
contracts for different pieces of the

38:18.449 --> 38:20.393
hardware . And bring on additional

38:20.393 --> 38:20.320
contractors everywhere from the

38:20.320 --> 38:22.840
avionics to the aircraft , uh , bodies

38:22.840 --> 38:24.729
themselves and engines . So we're

38:24.729 --> 38:26.784
really trying to make sure we have a

38:26.784 --> 38:28.951
very modular open structure which will

38:28.951 --> 38:28.500
drive those costs down going forward .

38:28.860 --> 38:30.916
Uh , and we are working closely with

38:30.916 --> 38:30.600
the allies . Matter of fact , the

38:30.600 --> 38:32.822
allies are doing investments in systems

38:32.822 --> 38:35.044
that are similar to what we're doing in

38:35.044 --> 38:37.378
the US , uh , I've been very optimistic .

38:37.378 --> 38:39.322
I , I don't know that any of those

38:39.322 --> 38:41.267
things would be . Considered truly

38:41.267 --> 38:43.322
attridable , uh , but if you look at

38:43.322 --> 38:47.209
the cost trade with an adversary of CCA

38:47.209 --> 38:49.376
with a number of long range weapons on

38:49.376 --> 38:51.376
there compared to the aircraft they

38:51.376 --> 38:53.265
might throw against them , it's a

38:53.265 --> 38:55.265
really good cost trade for us going

38:55.265 --> 38:57.265
forward . Uh , and I would just one

38:57.265 --> 38:59.320
final thing , uh , back on the , the

38:59.320 --> 39:01.320
family of the FAM weapons systems .

39:01.320 --> 39:03.639
Across the fight up , about 60% of that

39:03.639 --> 39:06.560
30 , 30,000 weapons are coming from

39:06.560 --> 39:08.727
there . So that tells you the level of

39:08.727 --> 39:10.838
investment . 60% of the weapons going

39:10.838 --> 39:13.171
forward across the fight up . Thank you .

39:13.171 --> 39:15.504
Thank you both . Thanks , Mr . Chairman .

39:15.504 --> 39:17.616
Senator Collins , followed by Senator

39:17.616 --> 39:19.949
Baldwin and Senator Kennedy . Thank you ,

39:20.010 --> 39:23.570
Mr . Chairman . Mr . Secretary ,

39:23.929 --> 39:27.010
I'm pleased to see the Air Force's

39:27.010 --> 39:30.729
continued investment in the F-35

39:30.729 --> 39:34.129
modernization , which includes the

39:34.129 --> 39:36.929
engine corps upgrade and the power

39:36.929 --> 39:39.570
thermal management upgrade .

39:40.489 --> 39:44.129
In Maine , uh , the Pratt and Whitney

39:44.129 --> 39:47.409
facility in North Berwick employs more

39:47.409 --> 39:51.169
than 2300 people and plays

39:51.169 --> 39:54.010
a critical role in producing and

39:54.010 --> 39:57.449
sustaining the F-135 . Engine .

39:57.919 --> 40:01.320
This impressive facility has made

40:01.320 --> 40:03.959
substantial investments in workforce

40:03.959 --> 40:07.760
capacity to support the long-term

40:07.760 --> 40:11.679
success of the F-35 . So

40:11.679 --> 40:15.300
here's my concern . The administration

40:15.300 --> 40:18.629
is proposing that a significant

40:18.629 --> 40:22.219
portion of funding for both of these

40:22.219 --> 40:25.919
modernization programs be done through

40:25.919 --> 40:29.620
a third reconciliation bill , a

40:29.620 --> 40:33.024
bill that may never . Happen . For

40:33.024 --> 40:34.985
example , of the

40:34.985 --> 40:38.824
$154 million

40:38.824 --> 40:40.864
request for the power thermal

40:40.864 --> 40:43.475
management upgrade for the engine ,

40:43.784 --> 40:47.745
only $10 million is requested in

40:47.745 --> 40:51.229
the base budget . What is the

40:51.229 --> 40:54.030
impact on these programs if they are

40:54.030 --> 40:57.290
not fully funded in fiscal year

40:57.290 --> 41:00.590
2027 , and what would be the

41:00.590 --> 41:04.510
implications for the defense industrial

41:04.510 --> 41:08.270
base ? Uh , thank you , Chairwoman ,

41:08.520 --> 41:10.800
and I agree it's a phenomenal engine

41:10.800 --> 41:13.479
that Pratt builds for the F-35 , um ,

41:13.560 --> 41:15.449
and we continue to modernize that

41:15.449 --> 41:17.504
engine going forward to make sure it

41:17.504 --> 41:19.338
can keep up with the rest of the

41:19.338 --> 41:21.338
aircraft . Uh , yes , uh , uh , you

41:21.338 --> 41:24.080
know , the , FY 27 budget request is a

41:24.080 --> 41:27.639
combination of base and reconciliation .

41:27.959 --> 41:30.879
Uh , we did not prioritize to execute

41:30.879 --> 41:33.540
the mission that we are asked to do .

41:33.949 --> 41:36.320
The total request is required . Uh , if ,

41:36.479 --> 41:38.750
if we do not get the total request ,

41:38.919 --> 41:40.919
then prioritization will have to be

41:40.919 --> 41:43.086
done within the budget we do get , and

41:43.086 --> 41:45.141
that'll be a continual dialogue with

41:45.141 --> 41:47.363
the , with the Congress going forward .

41:47.363 --> 41:49.475
Thank you . I would just suggest that

41:49.475 --> 41:53.209
it is taking a terrible risk and

41:53.209 --> 41:57.010
creates instability when you're

41:57.010 --> 42:00.310
counting on a 3rd reconciliation bill

42:00.610 --> 42:03.649
for the bulk of the money rather than

42:03.649 --> 42:05.989
doing base funding through the Defense

42:06.169 --> 42:09.290
Appropriations bill . So I just add one

42:09.290 --> 42:12.909
thing . I think it's safe to conclude

42:12.909 --> 42:14.353
there will not be another

42:14.353 --> 42:16.949
reconciliation bill , so it's really

42:16.949 --> 42:20.139
not an option . I agree with

42:20.139 --> 42:24.139
that assessment . Um , let me switch to

42:24.139 --> 42:26.560
a different issue , Mr . Secretary .

42:26.979 --> 42:30.050
The conflict with Iran has once again

42:30.050 --> 42:32.729
underscored the importance of the

42:32.729 --> 42:36.439
aerial refueling to US military

42:36.540 --> 42:39.379
operations . Tankers are essential to

42:39.379 --> 42:42.264
power projection . Global mobility ,

42:42.435 --> 42:44.915
fighter operations , and the

42:44.915 --> 42:47.995
sustainment of US forces across

42:47.995 --> 42:50.675
multiple theaters . Uh , the air

42:50.675 --> 42:54.314
refueling wing in Bangor , Maine has

42:54.314 --> 42:57.955
long played a critical role in that

42:57.955 --> 43:01.510
mission . Since 2021 and

43:01.510 --> 43:04.330
particularly during recent operations ,

43:04.699 --> 43:08.320
we've seen increased activity in Bangor ,

43:08.500 --> 43:11.500
reinforcing the importance of the Air

43:11.500 --> 43:13.979
National Guard tanker units to

43:13.979 --> 43:17.010
real-world operational requirements .

43:17.300 --> 43:19.899
At the same time , the Air Force has

43:19.899 --> 43:23.305
validated . a requirement for up to

43:23.305 --> 43:27.115
75 additional KC-46

43:27.115 --> 43:30.686
aircraft and plans to continue tanker

43:30.686 --> 43:33.825
production well into the next decade .

43:34.406 --> 43:37.125
Given the strategic importance of

43:37.125 --> 43:40.506
tanker aircraft and the continued

43:40.506 --> 43:43.271
operational contributions of The Air

43:43.271 --> 43:46.592
National Guard units such as the

43:46.592 --> 43:50.511
impressive one in Bangor , when should

43:50.511 --> 43:52.711
Congress expect the Air Force to

43:52.711 --> 43:56.572
provide a clearer roadmap for replacing

43:57.221 --> 44:01.052
the aging KC-135 aircraft

44:01.552 --> 44:05.370
across the guard tanker enterprise ? Uh ,

44:05.409 --> 44:07.409
thanks , Congresswoman . The tanker

44:07.409 --> 44:09.889
fleet air refueling is critical to

44:09.959 --> 44:12.181
operations , uh , anywhere in the world

44:12.181 --> 44:15.010
as well as airlift in general , uh , is

44:15.010 --> 44:18.629
critical , and , and this is why in the

44:18.959 --> 44:20.919
FY 27 and the fight out budget

44:20.919 --> 44:23.086
submission , we are essentially maxing

44:23.086 --> 44:25.363
out . Uh , Boeing's ability to produce ,

44:25.379 --> 44:27.212
uh , really at the max rate that

44:27.212 --> 44:29.435
Boeing's capable of producing tankers .

44:29.435 --> 44:31.601
And our intent , our , our strategy is

44:31.601 --> 44:34.129
to replace all the 135s , uh , in the

44:34.129 --> 44:36.185
fleet , uh , going forward . Some of

44:36.185 --> 44:38.351
those aircraft are actually older than

44:38.351 --> 44:40.649
I am . Um , Still flying the same ones

44:40.649 --> 44:43.290
that I , we flew when I was a young 2nd

44:43.290 --> 44:45.512
lieutenant . Uh , so we do know we need

44:45.512 --> 44:47.679
to replace them and our strategy is to

44:47.679 --> 44:49.901
replace all of them . Uh , with respect

44:49.901 --> 44:52.068
to , to , to main , exactly phenomenal

44:52.068 --> 44:54.123
unit there . They've done great work

44:54.123 --> 44:56.123
and they are part of the , the next

44:56.123 --> 44:58.234
strategic basing decision . Uh , that

44:58.234 --> 45:00.870
we hope to get out a narrowing of that

45:00.870 --> 45:03.429
field by September , October time frame ,

45:03.439 --> 45:05.139
and I'm sure we'll have more

45:05.139 --> 45:07.360
conversations . Thank you . The

45:07.459 --> 45:11.100
location is also very strategic , as ,

45:11.379 --> 45:13.909
as you're well aware . Yes , yes , Mr .

45:14.030 --> 45:17.330
Chairwoman . Um , it , just let me in

45:17.330 --> 45:21.129
ending say that I associate myself with

45:21.129 --> 45:24.070
the comments on Ukraine and the support

45:24.070 --> 45:26.292
for Ukraine and giving Ukraine the help

45:26.292 --> 45:29.989
it needs . Thank you . Thank you ,

45:30.030 --> 45:32.229
Mr . Chairman , and Mr . Secretary , I

45:32.229 --> 45:35.310
want to begin where the chairwoman of

45:35.310 --> 45:37.254
the full committee just left off ,

45:37.254 --> 45:41.189
which is on the uh KC forty-six's .

45:41.320 --> 45:44.229
Um , so thank you all , uh , for being

45:44.229 --> 45:46.629
here today and for your service . Um ,

45:47.300 --> 45:50.110
I , I , my question regarding the Air

45:50.110 --> 45:53.540
Force's refueling tanker fleet , um ,

45:54.610 --> 45:56.850
It starts with the fact that this war

45:56.850 --> 45:59.649
in Iran has shown how important these

45:59.649 --> 46:03.169
tankers are to successful US and

46:03.169 --> 46:06.090
allied operations . Over the last

46:06.090 --> 46:08.257
several years , the Air Force has been

46:08.257 --> 46:11.050
procuring KC-46 tankers to replace the

46:11.050 --> 46:14.610
aging KC-135s currently flown by

46:14.610 --> 46:17.290
units like the Wisconsin Air National

46:17.290 --> 46:20.620
Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing .

46:21.580 --> 46:25.399
7 KC-135s have also been

46:25.399 --> 46:28.899
destroyed or damaged in the fighting

46:28.899 --> 46:30.843
against Iran , including one which

46:30.843 --> 46:34.300
tragically crashed in Iraq , losing all

46:34.300 --> 46:37.780
six crew members on board . For fiscal

46:37.780 --> 46:40.840
year 27 , the Air Force is requesting

46:40.840 --> 46:44.840
$3.9 billion to procure 15

46:45.370 --> 46:48.770
KC-46s . Is this request

46:48.770 --> 46:51.600
sufficient to cover the lost

46:51.860 --> 46:55.340
KC-135s and the necessary

46:55.340 --> 46:57.540
upgrades to the tanker fleet ?

46:59.159 --> 47:01.159
Uh , thank you , Senator . It was a

47:01.159 --> 47:03.989
tragic loss . Um . Uh , no question

47:03.989 --> 47:07.830
about it . Uh , yes , it is ,

47:07.949 --> 47:10.005
uh , it is the appropriate amount of

47:10.005 --> 47:13.780
money to , to build , uh , the KC-46s .

47:14.070 --> 47:16.181
Uh , essentially , Senator , it's the

47:16.181 --> 47:18.348
max rate that Boeing's able to produce

47:18.348 --> 47:20.626
the the aircraft . Um , so , basically ,

47:20.626 --> 47:22.903
we're producing them as fast as we can ,

47:22.903 --> 47:25.237
uh , with the intent of replacing again ,

47:25.237 --> 47:27.514
all the KC-135s , uh , in the fleet at ,

47:27.560 --> 47:29.727
at , um , as we , as we build out over

47:29.727 --> 47:31.949
the , over the coming years . Uh , with

47:31.949 --> 47:34.060
respect to the losses , there was one

47:34.060 --> 47:36.116
aircraft that was a total loss . The

47:36.116 --> 47:38.282
other 6 aircraft , we believe , are in

47:38.282 --> 47:40.449
the process of being refurbished , and

47:40.449 --> 47:42.671
we will be back in inventory . Uh , but

47:42.671 --> 47:44.782
nonetheless , it's an old , these are

47:44.782 --> 47:44.570
old airplanes that we're replacing them

47:44.570 --> 47:46.737
as quickly as we can , as a contractor

47:46.737 --> 47:48.959
can build them . So you believe the 6 ,

47:49.439 --> 47:51.679
damaged or destroyed aircraft will be

47:51.679 --> 47:54.479
returned to service ? Yeah , the , the

47:54.479 --> 47:56.312
1 has been lost . The other 6 we

47:56.312 --> 47:58.423
believe will be returned to service .

47:58.423 --> 48:00.760
Is that correct ? Yeah , OK . Uh , do

48:00.760 --> 48:04.639
you anticipate , uh , that gap as they

48:04.639 --> 48:07.800
are returned to service , um , and the

48:07.800 --> 48:11.580
loss of the other one will impact ,

48:11.760 --> 48:15.300
um , what actually , how will it impact

48:16.030 --> 48:18.540
which , uh , units the Air Force will

48:18.540 --> 48:22.159
select for upgrades to the KC-4ty-sixes ?

48:24.500 --> 48:26.556
Uh , I can , uh , ask , uh , General

48:26.556 --> 48:28.489
Wilsbach to ask the impact to

48:28.489 --> 48:31.899
operations . Uh , it won't , uh , again ,

48:31.979 --> 48:34.820
it won't necessarily impact the , the

48:34.820 --> 48:36.939
basing decisions , uh , although it

48:36.939 --> 48:39.106
could potentially be a factor as we go

48:39.106 --> 48:41.272
through the strategic basing process .

48:41.272 --> 48:43.161
So I guess it could potentially ,

48:43.161 --> 48:45.106
depending on how long they take to

48:45.106 --> 48:46.828
repair , but , uh , that'll be

48:46.828 --> 48:46.250
considered as part of the strategic

48:46.250 --> 48:48.528
basing process . Uh , General Wilsbach ,

48:48.528 --> 48:50.806
with respect to the operational impact .

48:50.806 --> 48:52.750
And , and can you add how long you

48:52.750 --> 48:55.060
think it will take to refurbish the 6

48:55.500 --> 48:57.729
aircraft ? So some of them are already

48:57.729 --> 48:59.729
flying . In fact , most of them are

48:59.729 --> 49:01.729
already flying . Some of them had a

49:01.729 --> 49:04.007
one-time flight to have further repair ,

49:04.007 --> 49:06.320
um , but , um , some of them are

49:06.320 --> 49:08.520
already back in service , and then the

49:08.520 --> 49:10.464
ones that had the more significant

49:10.464 --> 49:12.576
damage will take a year or two to get

49:12.576 --> 49:14.620
fixed . Um , but I anticipate that

49:14.620 --> 49:16.453
they'll , they'll be back , um ,

49:16.620 --> 49:18.520
eventually . And as far as the

49:18.520 --> 49:20.699
operational impact , certainly after

49:20.699 --> 49:22.866
they were initially damaged , we had a

49:22.866 --> 49:25.580
very short term impact to the ability

49:25.580 --> 49:27.580
to generate tankers , but we surged

49:27.580 --> 49:29.580
forward other tankers to fill those

49:29.580 --> 49:31.747
gaps , and that's what we're doing now

49:31.747 --> 49:33.969
as well . So there's very little impact

49:34.280 --> 49:37.949
to the tanker loss , OK . Um , next , I

49:37.949 --> 49:40.005
want to ask you , General Wilsbach ,

49:40.350 --> 49:42.590
about the readiness of the Air Force's

49:42.590 --> 49:45.889
F-35 fleet . Um , by all accounts , the

49:45.889 --> 49:48.310
F-35 has performed well in the war with

49:48.310 --> 49:51.830
Iran . Unfortunately , only about 50%

49:51.830 --> 49:54.350
of the fleet was available for

49:54.350 --> 49:56.949
operations when the war began . What is

49:56.949 --> 49:59.110
the status of Air Force efforts to

49:59.110 --> 50:01.530
improve the combat readiness of our

50:01.590 --> 50:04.649
F-35s ? Um , thank you , Senator . Yes ,

50:04.770 --> 50:08.320
the F-35 has performed marvelously , um ,

50:08.370 --> 50:10.929
in epic fury , um , and , um , you're

50:10.929 --> 50:13.409
right , the aircraft availability , you

50:13.409 --> 50:15.610
know , averages out over the course of

50:15.610 --> 50:19.510
time at about 50% , but Of the jets

50:19.510 --> 50:22.290
that we actually had forward performed

50:22.669 --> 50:24.780
much , much greater than that . And I

50:24.780 --> 50:26.836
don't want to say the number because

50:26.836 --> 50:28.891
it's classified , but it was meeting

50:28.891 --> 50:30.891
standards for sure , forward . What

50:30.891 --> 50:32.613
that tells us is that when you

50:32.613 --> 50:35.475
prioritize the Funding for the parts

50:35.475 --> 50:37.531
and the weapons system sustainment ,

50:37.754 --> 50:40.074
the jet flies really well , and that's

50:40.074 --> 50:43.554
why in this budget we have $24 billion

50:43.554 --> 50:47.034
for weapons system sustainment and $10

50:47.034 --> 50:49.655
billion for flying hours and $4.5

50:49.655 --> 50:51.822
billion for the working capital fund ,

50:51.822 --> 50:54.780
which funds . The necessary parts and

50:54.780 --> 50:57.169
weapons systems sustainment , a large

50:57.169 --> 50:59.419
portion of that is for F-35 , but it's

50:59.419 --> 51:01.475
for all of our fleet so that we have

51:01.475 --> 51:03.530
the parts for the aircraft . So when

51:03.530 --> 51:05.641
they come back and they need repair ,

51:05.641 --> 51:07.863
our airmen can put the parts in and the

51:07.863 --> 51:09.919
jet can get back in the air . And in

51:09.919 --> 51:12.086
closing . Uh , Mr . Chairman and Madam

51:12.086 --> 51:14.308
Chairwoman , I want to associate myself

51:14.308 --> 51:16.419
with your comments and concerns about

51:16.419 --> 51:18.363
the fact that a large part of this

51:18.363 --> 51:19.863
request is in the partisan

51:19.863 --> 51:22.120
reconciliation measure , not in the

51:22.120 --> 51:24.287
base budget that we are , uh , putting

51:24.287 --> 51:27.060
together . So , um , I , I , I'm very

51:27.399 --> 51:29.399
concerned about that . Yield back .

51:33.320 --> 51:35.431
Thank you , Mr . Chairman . Uh , Mr .

51:35.439 --> 51:38.320
Secretary General , General , thank you

51:38.320 --> 51:41.409
for your service . Uh , Mr . Secretary ,

51:41.489 --> 51:44.600
I wanna start with you . Is not the ,

51:44.610 --> 51:48.000
uh , It's not the Air Force Global

51:48.000 --> 51:50.879
Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force

51:50.879 --> 51:54.179
Base . The most spectacular thing

51:54.179 --> 51:58.090
you've ever seen in your life . Uh ,

51:58.280 --> 52:00.447
yes , Senator , I was , I was actually

52:00.447 --> 52:02.613
when I was active duty , I was part of

52:02.613 --> 52:04.780
the forerunner which was Strategic Air

52:04.780 --> 52:06.947
Command . So , uh , it's , uh , when ,

52:06.947 --> 52:08.780
when are we going to address the

52:08.780 --> 52:11.080
staffing shortfalls there ? So , so I ,

52:11.320 --> 52:13.431
I'll look to the general for a little

52:13.431 --> 52:15.598
bit , but we are having , briefly , we

52:15.598 --> 52:17.431
are , we are increasing , we are

52:17.431 --> 52:19.709
increasing to the tune of about 10,000 ,

52:19.709 --> 52:22.199
uh , in the , in the military strength

52:22.199 --> 52:24.421
within the department to try to address

52:24.421 --> 52:26.199
some of those , uh , funding or

52:26.199 --> 52:29.209
staffing shortfalls . Briefly , the 27

52:29.209 --> 52:31.540
budget has dollars in there to increase

52:31.540 --> 52:33.873
the end strength for the Air Force , um ,

52:33.873 --> 52:36.520
as the Secretary noted , and um that

52:36.520 --> 52:39.139
will allow us to get after a lot of the

52:39.139 --> 52:41.250
shortages that we have . The staff at

52:41.250 --> 52:43.417
Global Strike Command is certainly one

52:43.417 --> 52:45.583
of them . Um , other shortages that we

52:45.583 --> 52:47.820
have with maintainers , etc . those are

52:47.820 --> 52:50.580
all , um , the budget request will

52:50.580 --> 52:52.691
allow us to take care of those . Uh ,

52:53.159 --> 52:55.389
General , before I ask this question ,

52:55.560 --> 52:57.616
I don't like to do it this way , but

52:58.090 --> 53:00.201
This will be an exception . I'm , I'm

53:00.201 --> 53:02.201
going to give you a point of view .

53:02.830 --> 53:05.310
About what's going on around here . I

53:05.310 --> 53:07.699
know you hear all the happy talk , but

53:07.949 --> 53:10.116
I'm gonna try to explain what's really

53:10.116 --> 53:12.116
going on in my opinion . I could be

53:12.116 --> 53:15.030
wrong , but I doubt it . Um , the

53:15.030 --> 53:17.308
president has pointed out that we need ,

53:17.308 --> 53:19.530
we have a crisis in defense and we need

53:19.530 --> 53:21.889
to spend a lot more money . I mean ,

53:22.010 --> 53:23.969
look around . He is , of course ,

53:24.209 --> 53:27.449
correct . He's asked for , for 42% .

53:27.489 --> 53:30.409
It's gonna be tough in regular order to

53:30.409 --> 53:33.899
do that amount . Uh , but Republicans

53:33.899 --> 53:36.979
want to spend , we haven't come to a

53:36.979 --> 53:38.812
final conclusion on the number ,

53:39.100 --> 53:42.719
anywhere from 20 to 25 , 27% more

53:43.179 --> 53:47.100
in the budget on defense . Um ,

53:47.600 --> 53:51.129
my Democratic friends . In the Senate ,

53:51.209 --> 53:53.510
and they are my friends , have said

53:53.510 --> 53:57.340
privately , that's swell . We want to

53:57.340 --> 54:00.219
spend an additional amount of money on

54:00.219 --> 54:03.139
welfare . Now ,

54:04.379 --> 54:07.860
Um , They're smart people .

54:08.290 --> 54:10.679
They know that we can't do that and

54:10.679 --> 54:13.000
we're not going to do that . If , if

54:13.000 --> 54:15.479
nothing else , it would explode the

54:15.479 --> 54:17.959
deficit . And besides that , is they

54:17.959 --> 54:19.959
know , we don't have a crisis in

54:19.959 --> 54:22.969
welfare . Like we have a crisis in

54:22.969 --> 54:25.489
defense . It's not like we're not

54:25.489 --> 54:27.770
spending a lot of money on welfare . If

54:27.770 --> 54:29.826
we would properly define the poverty

54:29.826 --> 54:32.370
rate , it wouldn't be 10% , it would be

54:32.370 --> 54:36.199
1% . And I'm not against

54:36.199 --> 54:39.169
helping people less fortunate than I am .

54:39.719 --> 54:43.520
I am , uh , for standing up to

54:43.520 --> 54:45.464
China and Russia and North Korea ,

54:45.989 --> 54:48.156
Korea and , and , you know , the other

54:48.156 --> 54:50.156
countries I'm talking about . Now ,

54:50.156 --> 54:52.322
what does that tell me ? That tells me

54:52.322 --> 54:54.656
that the Democrats have no intention of ,

54:54.656 --> 54:57.610
of helping us pass a budget . And I

54:57.610 --> 54:59.666
also predict , if I'm wrong , I will

54:59.666 --> 55:01.540
apologize that my friend Senator

55:01.540 --> 55:03.889
Schumer is going to shut down

55:03.889 --> 55:06.489
government tight as Dick's hat band ,

55:06.610 --> 55:08.388
first chance he gets before the

55:08.388 --> 55:11.629
midterms . We'll be shut down

55:11.629 --> 55:13.796
eventually , we won't stay shut down .

55:13.796 --> 55:17.000
We will come out of it . At some point ,

55:17.199 --> 55:19.255
but how we'll have to come out of it

55:19.255 --> 55:22.120
with a CR . How's that going to impact

55:22.120 --> 55:24.350
your , your , uh , the Air Force's

55:24.350 --> 55:26.239
ability to protect this country ?

55:28.250 --> 55:30.250
Because my Democratic friends , and

55:30.250 --> 55:32.194
they are my friends , want to play

55:32.194 --> 55:34.417
politics before the midterm elections .

55:35.330 --> 55:38.489
Uh , Without a reconciliation and a

55:38.489 --> 55:42.129
year-long CR that keeps us at the

55:42.129 --> 55:45.649
890-ish total , uh , that would

55:45.649 --> 55:48.129
have significant impacts on our

55:48.129 --> 55:50.429
readiness . Um , a lot of the

55:51.090 --> 55:53.090
investments we've just been talking

55:53.090 --> 55:55.679
about to meet the threats from The ,

55:56.250 --> 55:59.340
the , the , the , the unmanned vehicles

55:59.340 --> 56:02.510
as well as , you know , the , the , the

56:02.510 --> 56:04.732
increased readiness for weapons systems

56:04.732 --> 56:06.899
to increase the F-35 readiness as well

56:06.899 --> 56:09.010
as ammunitions procurement , all that

56:09.010 --> 56:11.177
is substantially impacted if we stayed

56:11.177 --> 56:13.121
at 890 without a reconciliation or

56:13.121 --> 56:15.232
other mechanisms . Well , I think you

56:15.232 --> 56:17.288
should prepare for it again , I hope

56:17.288 --> 56:19.288
I'm wrong , but I doubt it . You're

56:19.288 --> 56:21.454
going to hear a lot of happy talk from

56:21.454 --> 56:23.454
senators about how we need to spend

56:23.454 --> 56:25.566
more money on defense . But I think ,

56:25.570 --> 56:27.870
uh , a lot of my colleagues have no

56:27.870 --> 56:30.429
intention of voting for a budget under

56:30.429 --> 56:32.610
any circumstances . They want

56:32.610 --> 56:34.777
government to be shut down and I think

56:34.777 --> 56:36.832
Senator Schumer is gonna accommodate

56:36.832 --> 56:39.409
them , so I would prepare for a

56:39.409 --> 56:41.810
shutdown in the CR . Last question

56:41.810 --> 56:45.110
quickly . Uh , since we're shooting

56:45.110 --> 56:48.110
down $25,000 drones with million dollar

56:48.110 --> 56:51.689
missiles , why aren't we bear hugging

56:52.030 --> 56:55.590
Ukraine , which is the world's expert

56:55.590 --> 56:59.229
on drone technology , to combat drones

56:59.229 --> 57:02.449
with drones ? Uh , Senator , I'd say in

57:02.449 --> 57:06.260
many ways we are . We are , we

57:06.260 --> 57:08.427
are looking to utilize our expertise .

57:08.500 --> 57:11.419
We are looking to utilize similar or

57:11.419 --> 57:13.641
same manufacturing supply , but there's

57:13.641 --> 57:17.580
a hesitancy . Not on , not on our

57:17.580 --> 57:19.570
part , Senator . I know , but the

57:19.570 --> 57:21.514
administration does not seem fully

57:21.514 --> 57:23.848
committed to partnering up with Ukraine .

57:23.848 --> 57:26.070
I don't understand why . They know more

57:26.070 --> 57:28.580
about drones than anybody .

57:31.510 --> 57:33.843
I'm out of time . I'm sorry . Thank you ,

57:33.843 --> 57:34.843
Mr . Chairman .

57:46.669 --> 57:48.879
Senator Bozeman , followed by Senator

57:48.879 --> 57:51.889
Hoban , Senator Capito , uh , thank you ,

57:51.939 --> 57:54.659
Mr . Chairman , and Mr . Secretary , we

57:54.659 --> 57:57.360
had a , a good Air Force Caucus

57:57.739 --> 57:59.739
briefing , uh , last week , which I

57:59.739 --> 58:02.060
think everyone really enjoyed . One of

58:02.060 --> 58:04.116
the things that we discussed was the

58:04.116 --> 58:06.060
additional authorities provided by

58:06.060 --> 58:08.169
Congress to counter drone incursions

58:08.169 --> 58:10.225
over installations within the United

58:10.225 --> 58:13.370
States . Can you tell us the impacts

58:13.590 --> 58:16.370
that these drone incursions have made

58:16.469 --> 58:19.489
on the mission ? And also what

58:19.489 --> 58:23.030
additional authorities would be helpful ,

58:23.330 --> 58:25.129
would be needed to protect our

58:25.129 --> 58:27.462
infrastructure , airmen , and guardians .

58:29.050 --> 58:31.919
I would say the , the impact of

58:31.919 --> 58:33.850
operations to this point has been

58:33.850 --> 58:37.209
minimal . I'm more concerned about the

58:37.209 --> 58:40.370
potential impact of operations if the

58:40.370 --> 58:42.409
drone operators , regardless of who

58:42.409 --> 58:44.576
they are , got , got more aggressive .

58:44.576 --> 58:46.631
Uh , with respect to authorities , I

58:46.631 --> 58:48.853
think we're in pretty good shape . If I

58:48.853 --> 58:48.850
could , let's let General Wolfsbach

58:48.850 --> 58:51.770
touch on it . The secretary is right ,

58:51.899 --> 58:54.189
a minimal impact at this point , but we

58:54.189 --> 58:57.070
are giving up intelligence to people

58:57.070 --> 58:59.590
that are flying drones on our

58:59.590 --> 59:02.149
facilities . If we ever run into one

59:02.149 --> 59:03.982
with an aircraft , it's going to

59:03.982 --> 59:05.927
significantly damage it . It could

59:05.927 --> 59:07.982
cause it to crash . And so that's my

59:07.982 --> 59:10.205
greatest concern . And of course we all

59:10.205 --> 59:12.371
saw what happened to the Russians with

59:12.371 --> 59:14.593
a drone attack . And so it's very cheap

59:14.593 --> 59:16.427
to fly a drone and attack a very

59:16.427 --> 59:18.699
expensive platform , so . We need to be

59:18.699 --> 59:20.921
able to defend every one of our bases ,

59:20.921 --> 59:22.810
and we are in this budget , we're

59:22.810 --> 59:25.032
asking for additional funds to increase

59:25.969 --> 59:28.340
eventually to get every single base

59:28.340 --> 59:30.396
covered with a defensive system that

59:30.396 --> 59:32.620
can detect and defeat any drone that

59:32.620 --> 59:34.676
would come to our base . We have the

59:34.676 --> 59:36.898
current authorities to do that . Good ,

59:36.898 --> 59:37.898
very good .

59:41.100 --> 59:43.739
I've heard from , uh , each of you on

59:43.739 --> 59:46.000
the need of more flexibility with the

59:46.399 --> 59:48.399
multi-year procurement efforts that

59:48.399 --> 59:50.566
have been provided to the department .

59:50.566 --> 59:52.566
I understand that you all have made

59:52.566 --> 59:54.788
progress with using the authorities for

59:54.788 --> 59:56.570
things like munitions , uh ,

59:56.659 --> 59:59.100
procurement . Uh , General Ilsbach ,

59:59.419 --> 01:00:01.739
can you speak to the progress being

01:00:01.739 --> 01:00:03.406
made on these authorities for

01:00:03.406 --> 01:00:06.040
multi-year procurement and are they

01:00:06.399 --> 01:00:09.899
allowing the Air Force to succeed ? In

01:00:09.899 --> 01:00:12.870
munitions procurement . Yes , thank you ,

01:00:12.889 --> 01:00:15.000
Senator . So we , we have authorities

01:00:15.000 --> 01:00:18.010
right now for JASM and lorazm . We'd

01:00:18.010 --> 01:00:20.370
like to expand that to other weapons

01:00:20.370 --> 01:00:23.850
systems like the AMAM and the JATA . Um ,

01:00:23.860 --> 01:00:26.027
there's a number of others that , that

01:00:26.027 --> 01:00:28.082
we would like to expand to . We , we

01:00:28.082 --> 01:00:30.304
believe that it creates a stability for

01:00:30.304 --> 01:00:32.193
the industrial base , the defense

01:00:32.193 --> 01:00:34.138
industrial base , um , that , that

01:00:34.138 --> 01:00:36.659
creates what I say is good behavior by

01:00:36.659 --> 01:00:38.715
them that benefits us . Um , so they

01:00:38.715 --> 01:00:40.826
can hire the right number of people ,

01:00:40.826 --> 01:00:42.992
they can facilitize , they can line up

01:00:42.992 --> 01:00:45.215
the supply chain because they have that

01:00:45.215 --> 01:00:47.159
stable environment . And what that

01:00:47.159 --> 01:00:48.881
means to us is we get Uh , the

01:00:48.881 --> 01:00:51.048
equipment that we've ordered on time ,

01:00:51.048 --> 01:00:53.679
on contract , uh , and at the rate and

01:00:53.679 --> 01:00:55.568
the volume that we need , right ,

01:00:55.719 --> 01:00:57.886
General Salzman , are you experiencing

01:00:57.886 --> 01:01:01.870
the same thing or ? Yes , Senator ,

01:01:01.919 --> 01:01:04.139
the , the , the multi-year procurement

01:01:04.139 --> 01:01:06.560
is vital because it creates stability

01:01:06.560 --> 01:01:08.840
for the vendors , which allows them to

01:01:08.840 --> 01:01:10.284
invest their own money in

01:01:10.284 --> 01:01:12.284
facilitization , which improves our

01:01:12.284 --> 01:01:14.396
ability at speed and scale to deliver

01:01:14.396 --> 01:01:16.451
capabilities . So , the stability is

01:01:16.451 --> 01:01:19.139
just essential to success . Very good .

01:01:19.590 --> 01:01:21.669
Last week we discussed the E-7 wedge

01:01:21.669 --> 01:01:23.725
tail and how it would complement the

01:01:23.725 --> 01:01:25.613
efforts of the Golden Dome . Uh ,

01:01:25.649 --> 01:01:27.816
General Saltzman , can you explain how

01:01:27.816 --> 01:01:30.030
the E-7 wedge tail would be beneficial

01:01:30.030 --> 01:01:31.919
to integrate into the space-based

01:01:31.919 --> 01:01:35.030
airborne moving target indicator as we

01:01:35.030 --> 01:01:38.530
build out the Golden Dome ? I , I

01:01:38.530 --> 01:01:41.209
think my experience in combat tells me

01:01:41.209 --> 01:01:43.376
that when you have a tough situation ,

01:01:43.376 --> 01:01:45.320
the more capability you have , the

01:01:45.320 --> 01:01:47.320
better . And I think that these are

01:01:47.320 --> 01:01:49.376
complementary systems that will only

01:01:49.376 --> 01:01:51.598
make , uh , uh , more options available

01:01:51.598 --> 01:01:53.931
uh for air battle management , um , and ,

01:01:53.931 --> 01:01:55.987
and moving target indications . Very

01:01:55.987 --> 01:01:59.810
good . Um , Again ,

01:01:59.929 --> 01:02:02.239
General Saltzman , uh , what

01:02:02.239 --> 01:02:05.120
capabilities , missions , and

01:02:05.120 --> 01:02:07.570
operational demands are driving , uh ,

01:02:09.040 --> 01:02:11.300
The growth that you have in the , uh ,

01:02:11.310 --> 01:02:13.479
in the budget , and can you speak to

01:02:13.479 --> 01:02:15.590
why this level of expansion is

01:02:15.590 --> 01:02:17.989
necessary at this time ? Well , I'll

01:02:17.989 --> 01:02:19.878
start with why it's important and

01:02:19.878 --> 01:02:22.100
that's because the threat's important .

01:02:22.100 --> 01:02:24.267
I mean , the threat is growing and the

01:02:24.267 --> 01:02:26.489
missions are important . Uh , the space

01:02:26.489 --> 01:02:28.711
control alone to , to be able to secure

01:02:28.711 --> 01:02:28.510
the space domains , we can use it the

01:02:28.510 --> 01:02:31.360
way we want , um , requires us to

01:02:31.360 --> 01:02:33.304
invest in new capabilities for new

01:02:33.304 --> 01:02:35.750
mission sets . Uh , those are gonna be

01:02:35.750 --> 01:02:37.806
delivered in the next 4 to 5 years ,

01:02:37.806 --> 01:02:39.917
but they're gonna require new mission

01:02:39.917 --> 01:02:42.028
op centers , new Personnel to fly the

01:02:42.028 --> 01:02:44.820
satellites , as well as 10 new program

01:02:44.820 --> 01:02:46.820
officers just to do the acquisition

01:02:46.820 --> 01:02:48.653
work . So we have an increase in

01:02:48.653 --> 01:02:50.820
manpower , increase in facilities when

01:02:50.820 --> 01:02:52.876
we get these new missions to perform

01:02:52.876 --> 01:02:55.042
these vital critical functions for the

01:02:55.042 --> 01:02:57.153
nation . Good . Thank you very much .

01:02:57.153 --> 01:02:56.500
Thank you , Mr . Chairman .

01:03:01.550 --> 01:03:03.850
Thank you , Mr . Chair . Uh , Secretary

01:03:03.850 --> 01:03:06.500
Mick , I want to follow up on Senator

01:03:06.500 --> 01:03:08.667
Kennedy's concerns because I very much

01:03:08.667 --> 01:03:12.550
share them . Uh , if we're not able

01:03:12.550 --> 01:03:15.610
to do a reconciliation and we continue

01:03:15.610 --> 01:03:19.550
to , uh , Work to get the regular

01:03:19.550 --> 01:03:22.790
funding through um in terms of the

01:03:22.790 --> 01:03:26.110
budgetary process , um , isn't it

01:03:26.110 --> 01:03:29.030
vital that we have a supplemental right

01:03:29.030 --> 01:03:31.629
now to make sure that we have provided

01:03:31.629 --> 01:03:35.300
funding for our global military

01:03:35.300 --> 01:03:38.949
operations . Oh , thanks ,

01:03:39.000 --> 01:03:41.820
Senator . It's , it's vital that we get .

01:03:42.629 --> 01:03:45.239
The full budget request . Um , again ,

01:03:45.290 --> 01:03:47.457
all the things we've talked about here

01:03:47.457 --> 01:03:49.600
are because of the increase to the

01:03:49.600 --> 01:03:51.767
Department of the Air Force's budget ,

01:03:51.767 --> 01:03:54.100
with respect to supplemental , you know ,

01:03:54.100 --> 01:03:56.322
right now , that's will come out of the

01:03:56.322 --> 01:03:58.433
OMB in the White House and the DOW is

01:03:58.433 --> 01:04:00.656
working with OMB on , on , on options ,

01:04:00.656 --> 01:04:02.878
but I , I can't speak to supplemental ,

01:04:02.878 --> 01:04:05.360
right ? But it is vital that we get

01:04:05.360 --> 01:04:08.280
funding to our military for all of

01:04:08.280 --> 01:04:10.879
these purposes , and the longer we go

01:04:10.879 --> 01:04:12.935
at a lower level . Of funding locked

01:04:12.935 --> 01:04:15.264
into a CR , the bigger problems we're

01:04:15.264 --> 01:04:17.504
going to have . Is that a fact ? It is

01:04:17.504 --> 01:04:19.560
vital that we get the resource we're

01:04:19.560 --> 01:04:21.615
requested . So anybody talking about

01:04:21.615 --> 01:04:23.726
this and not recognizing that fact is

01:04:23.726 --> 01:04:25.784
not stepping up and supporting the

01:04:25.784 --> 01:04:27.905
needs our military has at a very

01:04:27.905 --> 01:04:29.905
dangerous time in the world , isn't

01:04:29.905 --> 01:04:32.179
that true ? I agree , Senator , it is

01:04:32.179 --> 01:04:34.512
vital we get the resources we requested .

01:04:34.512 --> 01:04:36.790
Thank you , Secretary General Wilsbach .

01:04:36.830 --> 01:04:39.179
Um , as far as the Gulf , talk to me

01:04:39.179 --> 01:04:41.401
about the blockade , and I'm gonna just

01:04:41.401 --> 01:04:43.419
put forward a a thought and , and I

01:04:43.419 --> 01:04:45.580
want you to analyze and tell me what

01:04:45.580 --> 01:04:48.100
you think . It seems to me if we get

01:04:48.100 --> 01:04:50.100
better and better at the blockade ,

01:04:50.100 --> 01:04:53.320
which we are , and we bottle up

01:04:53.419 --> 01:04:56.919
Iran and we open up the strait for

01:04:57.489 --> 01:04:59.929
everyone else . And we continue to put

01:04:59.929 --> 01:05:02.207
pressure on our allies to work with us ,

01:05:02.207 --> 01:05:04.889
including NATO . Doesn't that long term

01:05:04.889 --> 01:05:07.000
put the kind of pressure on Iran that

01:05:07.000 --> 01:05:09.989
we need to get to the kind of , uh ,

01:05:10.370 --> 01:05:12.259
make sure they don't have nuclear

01:05:12.259 --> 01:05:14.481
weapons and to get to the place that we

01:05:14.481 --> 01:05:14.389
need to , not just for the good of the

01:05:14.389 --> 01:05:16.333
United States , but really for the

01:05:16.333 --> 01:05:19.550
world . That's getting a little bit out

01:05:19.550 --> 01:05:22.030
of my lane , but I'm tracking what

01:05:22.030 --> 01:05:24.389
you're saying . It seems that that is

01:05:24.389 --> 01:05:26.611
the objective and the approach that the

01:05:26.611 --> 01:05:30.250
blockade is causing inside of Iran .

01:05:30.600 --> 01:05:32.267
But what I want to understand

01:05:32.267 --> 01:05:34.433
specifically is your thoughts in terms

01:05:34.433 --> 01:05:36.656
of our ability militarily to get to the

01:05:36.656 --> 01:05:38.830
point where we can block Iran with the

01:05:38.830 --> 01:05:40.997
blockade and open up the strait . What

01:05:40.997 --> 01:05:43.108
are your thoughts in terms of getting

01:05:43.108 --> 01:05:45.274
there ? How soon and how effectively ?

01:05:45.274 --> 01:05:47.330
Well , I think you're seeing that we

01:05:47.330 --> 01:05:50.709
are . Admiral Admiral Cooper with

01:05:50.709 --> 01:05:52.876
CENTCOM is executing that every single

01:05:52.876 --> 01:05:54.820
day , and he's doing that with the

01:05:54.820 --> 01:05:58.270
Joint Force , and the Air Force is

01:05:58.270 --> 01:06:01.310
providing strike capability overhead as

01:06:01.310 --> 01:06:03.532
well as intelligence , surveillance and

01:06:03.532 --> 01:06:05.754
reconnaissance . So that's , that's the

01:06:05.754 --> 01:06:07.977
Air Force part of that mission . Yeah ,

01:06:07.977 --> 01:06:10.143
and in fact this committee is going to

01:06:10.143 --> 01:06:10.070
meet with him in the skiff today and

01:06:10.070 --> 01:06:12.379
talk about that and other things . So ,

01:06:12.629 --> 01:06:15.699
but I do want to Highlight what you're

01:06:15.699 --> 01:06:18.032
doing over there , how incredible it is ,

01:06:18.032 --> 01:06:20.199
and that this is a strategy . I mean ,

01:06:20.199 --> 01:06:22.421
people have to have some patience , but

01:06:22.421 --> 01:06:24.588
this is a strategy that can work , can

01:06:24.588 --> 01:06:26.755
solve an existential crisis , and over

01:06:26.755 --> 01:06:28.921
time energy prices will be lower . And

01:06:28.921 --> 01:06:28.580
if we're not out there talking about it ,

01:06:28.629 --> 01:06:30.851
how can we expect people to say , hey ,

01:06:30.851 --> 01:06:33.018
yeah , we do have to hang in there and

01:06:33.018 --> 01:06:35.185
get it accomplished . So we can't just

01:06:35.185 --> 01:06:37.240
have those conversations in the SCIF

01:06:37.240 --> 01:06:39.462
and that's why I do want to bring it up

01:06:39.462 --> 01:06:38.419
to you as well as technology ,

01:06:38.469 --> 01:06:40.636
incredible work that our men and women

01:06:40.636 --> 01:06:42.879
are doing over there . And I'm sure

01:06:42.879 --> 01:06:45.840
glad our two Apache uh pilots are , are

01:06:45.840 --> 01:06:48.439
safe . Um , we're losing a lot of MQ9s

01:06:48.439 --> 01:06:50.383
over there . Um , oh , I better be

01:06:50.383 --> 01:06:52.383
careful . We've lost some MQ9s over

01:06:52.383 --> 01:06:54.629
there . That production line is closed

01:06:54.629 --> 01:06:56.740
down back to the funding issue . What

01:06:56.740 --> 01:06:58.907
are your thoughts on how we cover that

01:06:58.907 --> 01:07:00.962
base ? Well , first of all , the MQ9

01:07:00.962 --> 01:07:03.073
has been a tremendous capability that

01:07:03.073 --> 01:07:06.100
we've used . Very well inside of Epic

01:07:06.100 --> 01:07:08.469
Fury , and they've conducted a lot of

01:07:08.469 --> 01:07:10.525
extremely high risk missions that we

01:07:10.525 --> 01:07:12.358
would choose not to put a manned

01:07:12.358 --> 01:07:14.358
platform in , and they've been very

01:07:14.358 --> 01:07:16.025
effective . Uh , so from that

01:07:16.025 --> 01:07:18.191
standpoint , we've gotten a lot out of

01:07:18.191 --> 01:07:20.302
our MQ9s and as you said , we've lost

01:07:20.302 --> 01:07:19.689
some of them . And the approach that

01:07:19.689 --> 01:07:22.899
we're taking now is , uh , is to

01:07:22.899 --> 01:07:26.260
refurbish and , uh , get ready the

01:07:26.260 --> 01:07:28.860
remaining block 5 MQ9s that we have .

01:07:28.979 --> 01:07:31.090
We still have a lot of them . I don't

01:07:31.090 --> 01:07:32.979
want to say the number cause it's

01:07:32.979 --> 01:07:35.201
classified , but we still have a lot of

01:07:35.201 --> 01:07:37.201
them , and so we're not in a crisis

01:07:37.201 --> 01:07:37.159
with the MQ9 at the moment . And then

01:07:37.159 --> 01:07:39.780
we're also looking at a more affordable

01:07:40.639 --> 01:07:43.000
option that provides a lot more staying

01:07:43.000 --> 01:07:45.560
power even than the MQ-9 with respect

01:07:45.560 --> 01:07:48.840
to on-station time , um , which we

01:07:48.840 --> 01:07:50.959
believe will be a lot more economical

01:07:50.959 --> 01:07:53.070
and will provide essentially the same

01:07:53.070 --> 01:07:55.469
capability that an MQ-9 does for less

01:07:55.469 --> 01:07:57.691
money and for a longer period of time .

01:07:57.691 --> 01:07:59.840
In addition to newer technologies and

01:07:59.840 --> 01:08:02.370
satellite , correct , that's a given .

01:08:02.520 --> 01:08:04.719
I mean , we are putting a lot more in

01:08:04.719 --> 01:08:06.830
space which General Saltzman can talk

01:08:06.830 --> 01:08:09.110
to . General Saltzman at Grand Forks ,

01:08:09.159 --> 01:08:11.270
we're working on funding and standing

01:08:11.270 --> 01:08:13.492
up a Space Force operational facility .

01:08:13.492 --> 01:08:15.959
Talk to me about the mission that you

01:08:15.959 --> 01:08:18.070
expect to operate out of that , and I

01:08:18.070 --> 01:08:20.181
know there'll be a number of others ,

01:08:20.181 --> 01:08:22.939
but specifically Grand Forks . Thanks ,

01:08:23.009 --> 01:08:24.787
Senator . We're focusing on the

01:08:24.787 --> 01:08:26.953
proliferated constellations up there .

01:08:26.953 --> 01:08:29.065
So that'll be the space-based sensing

01:08:29.065 --> 01:08:30.953
and targeting , missile warning ,

01:08:30.953 --> 01:08:33.009
missile defense , and the space data

01:08:33.009 --> 01:08:35.120
network all take advantage of that op

01:08:35.120 --> 01:08:34.540
center that we're putting at Ground

01:08:34.540 --> 01:08:36.620
Forks . Thanks to all of you for the

01:08:36.620 --> 01:08:38.342
incredible work you're doing .

01:08:46.799 --> 01:08:50.790
Shaheen and then Murkowski . Um , thank

01:08:50.790 --> 01:08:53.310
you , Mr . Chairman . Um , Mr .

01:08:53.319 --> 01:08:55.430
Secretary , we had a chance to talk a

01:08:55.430 --> 01:08:57.950
little bit about the KC 46 , and I

01:08:57.950 --> 01:09:00.779
understand it's come up , um , from a

01:09:00.779 --> 01:09:03.259
number of people at this hearing , but

01:09:03.430 --> 01:09:06.950
I did wanna , um , reiterate what I

01:09:06.950 --> 01:09:10.009
understood you to say , um , when We

01:09:10.009 --> 01:09:12.176
had a chance to talk about this at the

01:09:12.176 --> 01:09:14.176
Air Force Caucus , um , because New

01:09:14.176 --> 01:09:16.959
Hampshire is the home to the 157th Air

01:09:16.959 --> 01:09:19.850
Refueling Wing . It's the only KC-46

01:09:19.850 --> 01:09:22.072
wing in the country to reach an initial

01:09:22.072 --> 01:09:24.183
operating capacity . We're very proud

01:09:24.183 --> 01:09:27.120
of it , as you can tell . Um , and

01:09:27.979 --> 01:09:30.201
I , I know that you talked about the KC

01:09:30.201 --> 01:09:32.859
46 in your written testimony and the

01:09:32.859 --> 01:09:35.899
investment of over a billion dollars in

01:09:35.899 --> 01:09:38.220
the program , but as we know , the

01:09:38.220 --> 01:09:40.419
remote vision system has continued to

01:09:40.419 --> 01:09:43.020
have issues . Um , I understand that

01:09:43.020 --> 01:09:44.798
they're getting very close to a

01:09:44.798 --> 01:09:46.353
resolution and that will be

01:09:46.353 --> 01:09:49.580
incorporated in the new planes , but my

01:09:49.580 --> 01:09:52.740
concern is how you prioritize those

01:09:52.740 --> 01:09:54.796
planes that are already operating in

01:09:54.796 --> 01:09:57.879
terms of retrofitting with the new Um ,

01:09:58.140 --> 01:10:00.660
remote vision system . So , can you

01:10:00.919 --> 01:10:04.040
speak to how you see those planes being

01:10:04.040 --> 01:10:07.990
addressed in terms of the retrofits ? I

01:10:07.990 --> 01:10:09.934
think the good news , I think that

01:10:09.934 --> 01:10:12.268
we're proud of you . We're proud of the ,

01:10:12.268 --> 01:10:14.323
the , the unit as well , Senator . I

01:10:14.323 --> 01:10:16.490
think the good news is that we believe

01:10:16.490 --> 01:10:20.310
we've fixed and have tested the new 2.0

01:10:20.310 --> 01:10:22.759
vision system . And that we should

01:10:22.759 --> 01:10:24.926
start rolling that into the production

01:10:24.926 --> 01:10:27.240
line in 28 . I think your concern goes

01:10:27.240 --> 01:10:29.351
further than that is how do we get to

01:10:29.351 --> 01:10:31.573
the planes that are already out there ,

01:10:31.573 --> 01:10:33.573
uh , and we are working through the

01:10:33.573 --> 01:10:35.240
strategy for that , but it is

01:10:35.240 --> 01:10:37.462
essentially going to take a significant

01:10:37.462 --> 01:10:39.296
mod to the airplane to do that .

01:10:39.296 --> 01:10:41.351
Whether or not we can do that in the

01:10:41.351 --> 01:10:40.560
field or we do that as part of the

01:10:40.560 --> 01:10:42.504
depot , we're just working our way

01:10:42.504 --> 01:10:44.671
through that . Uh , General Wilsbach ,

01:10:44.671 --> 01:10:46.782
anything else on that ? Can I , can I

01:10:46.782 --> 01:10:48.893
just ask you two , to address as part

01:10:48.893 --> 01:10:50.893
of your comments how you view those

01:10:50.893 --> 01:10:53.116
planes that are already out there ? Are

01:10:53.116 --> 01:10:55.338
you looking at the first ones who , who

01:10:55.338 --> 01:10:57.410
are fielded , or , um , what's your

01:10:57.410 --> 01:11:00.319
priority ? Uh , we haven't set the

01:11:00.319 --> 01:11:02.541
priority for which actual aircraft gets

01:11:02.541 --> 01:11:04.541
the , uh , the upgrade , but what ,

01:11:04.541 --> 01:11:06.652
what I'll tell you , Senator , is the

01:11:06.652 --> 01:11:08.910
KC-46 is performing magnificently ,

01:11:09.200 --> 01:11:11.120
even with , uh , we , we know the

01:11:11.120 --> 01:11:13.176
vision , current vision system isn't

01:11:13.176 --> 01:11:15.342
what we ordered , and that's why we're

01:11:15.342 --> 01:11:17.342
getting the 2.0 version of it . But

01:11:17.342 --> 01:11:19.629
even so , it's flying fantastically .

01:11:19.680 --> 01:11:21.720
It's been doing a great job in Epic

01:11:21.720 --> 01:11:23.664
Fury and , and really all over the

01:11:23.664 --> 01:11:25.887
world . I actually just had a chance to

01:11:25.887 --> 01:11:27.887
fly the aircraft myself , and I can

01:11:27.887 --> 01:11:29.998
tell you , It's a phenomenal aircraft

01:11:29.998 --> 01:11:32.220
and when we get the deficiency solved ,

01:11:32.220 --> 01:11:34.109
it will be even better . Well , I

01:11:34.109 --> 01:11:36.276
certainly agree with that , and I hope

01:11:36.276 --> 01:11:36.140
that as you're thinking about how

01:11:36.140 --> 01:11:38.251
you're going to retrofit those planes

01:11:38.251 --> 01:11:40.362
that are already operating , that you

01:11:40.362 --> 01:11:42.620
will think about which ones have been

01:11:42.620 --> 01:11:45.680
on the ground longest and maybe , um ,

01:11:45.859 --> 01:11:48.299
therefore , More

01:11:49.680 --> 01:11:53.439
Capable of And it may be more

01:11:53.439 --> 01:11:56.319
important to address that RVS system .

01:11:57.490 --> 01:12:00.459
Um , General Saltzman , we will miss

01:12:00.459 --> 01:12:03.919
you as you retire . Um , as I was

01:12:04.129 --> 01:12:06.700
saying briefly last month , a group of

01:12:06.700 --> 01:12:08.959
senators traveled to the Arctic . Um ,

01:12:09.100 --> 01:12:12.359
we visited Bitic in , uh , Greenland ,

01:12:12.660 --> 01:12:15.490
and it was very impressive to see the

01:12:15.490 --> 01:12:17.500
operation there , to see , um , the

01:12:17.500 --> 01:12:20.279
work with NASA to identify black holes .

01:12:20.580 --> 01:12:22.879
Um , I was very impressed with that ,

01:12:22.899 --> 01:12:26.629
to see the The cooperation with um our

01:12:26.629 --> 01:12:28.790
Danish and Canadian and Greenlandic

01:12:28.790 --> 01:12:30.901
partners . It was nice to hear that ,

01:12:30.901 --> 01:12:34.549
that is going um so smoothly despite

01:12:34.549 --> 01:12:37.430
some of the challenges . So , can you

01:12:37.430 --> 01:12:39.790
and , and for us in New Hampshire to

01:12:39.790 --> 01:12:42.990
see the , the station and to , to know

01:12:42.990 --> 01:12:45.270
the connection to New Boston , New

01:12:45.270 --> 01:12:47.430
Hampshire because there is a hub for

01:12:47.430 --> 01:12:49.597
the Space Force in New Boston , as you

01:12:49.597 --> 01:12:51.890
know . But can you talk about how

01:12:51.890 --> 01:12:54.410
important it is for that radar and

01:12:54.410 --> 01:12:56.609
space surveillance mission to our

01:12:56.609 --> 01:12:58.831
homeland missile warning in both the US

01:12:58.831 --> 01:13:00.998
and Canada , and how we're cooperating

01:13:00.998 --> 01:13:03.319
with Canada on that ? Thank you ,

01:13:03.370 --> 01:13:05.537
Senator , and I know the guardians and

01:13:05.537 --> 01:13:07.814
airmen up there loved having you there .

01:13:07.814 --> 01:13:09.926
So it was , it was important for them

01:13:09.926 --> 01:13:11.814
as , as much as it is for us that

01:13:11.814 --> 01:13:11.640
Greenland is an important strategic

01:13:11.640 --> 01:13:13.862
area for us . Missile warning , missile

01:13:13.862 --> 01:13:15.807
defense , as you mentioned , space

01:13:15.807 --> 01:13:17.640
domain awareness , and satellite

01:13:17.640 --> 01:13:19.640
control network . We have all those

01:13:19.640 --> 01:13:21.751
kinds of antennas and , and radars up

01:13:21.751 --> 01:13:23.751
there to do vital missions and that

01:13:23.751 --> 01:13:25.862
posture where they are , gives them a

01:13:25.862 --> 01:13:27.807
different vantage point to collect

01:13:27.807 --> 01:13:29.807
things and to see . Things that you

01:13:29.807 --> 01:13:31.918
wouldn't otherwise get an opportunity

01:13:31.918 --> 01:13:34.140
if we didn't have the um that strategic

01:13:34.140 --> 01:13:36.362
piece of , of land . So it's a , it's a

01:13:36.362 --> 01:13:38.529
vital , and that's why we're investing

01:13:38.529 --> 01:13:40.473
in it . Almost 130 million in this

01:13:40.473 --> 01:13:42.418
budget request for upgrades to the

01:13:42.418 --> 01:13:44.584
radar system . We're , we're upgrading

01:13:44.584 --> 01:13:46.696
the um um the dorms . We're upgrading

01:13:46.696 --> 01:13:48.751
the power generation , as you know ,

01:13:48.751 --> 01:13:50.918
that's vital there as well . Uh , so I

01:13:50.918 --> 01:13:52.807
feel like we're investing heavily

01:13:52.807 --> 01:13:52.740
because of the strategic importance to ,

01:13:52.819 --> 01:13:55.029
to those missions . Thank you . Thank

01:13:55.029 --> 01:13:58.549
you , Mr . Chairman . Thank you , Mr .

01:13:58.560 --> 01:14:00.560
Chairman . Mr . Secretary-General ,

01:14:00.919 --> 01:14:02.975
thank you for being here . Thank you

01:14:02.975 --> 01:14:05.141
for your leadership . I want to follow

01:14:05.141 --> 01:14:07.308
on , uh , Senator Shaheen's comments ,

01:14:07.308 --> 01:14:09.419
uh , about our , our Arctic visit and

01:14:09.419 --> 01:14:11.419
particularly to , to Pitovic . Um ,

01:14:11.419 --> 01:14:13.641
I've been there on multiple occasions ,

01:14:13.641 --> 01:14:15.863
as you know , uh , general , and , uh ,

01:14:15.863 --> 01:14:18.640
with each visit , I am impressed by

01:14:18.640 --> 01:14:21.160
what we have , but also how old what we

01:14:22.325 --> 01:14:24.654
Have is there and we have seen

01:14:24.654 --> 01:14:27.895
obviously increasing interest in the

01:14:27.895 --> 01:14:31.734
high north and better understanding the ,

01:14:31.774 --> 01:14:33.895
the gaps that we have in our

01:14:33.895 --> 01:14:36.975
surveillance is , is what is , is going

01:14:36.975 --> 01:14:40.234
to , to have to be a priority for us .

01:14:40.535 --> 01:14:42.995
Now , I appreciate what you have shared

01:14:43.214 --> 01:14:46.734
uh in terms of underscoring uh the ,

01:14:46.774 --> 01:14:49.174
the importance of the Arctic , but do

01:14:49.174 --> 01:14:52.770
you believe that the The budget that we

01:14:52.770 --> 01:14:56.479
have in front of us is , is , is

01:14:56.479 --> 01:15:00.060
going to be um uh appropriate

01:15:00.520 --> 01:15:03.979
uh when it comes to not only ensuring

01:15:04.279 --> 01:15:07.740
uh the ongoing mission role of ,

01:15:07.870 --> 01:15:11.080
of Petovic Space Base , but , but the

01:15:11.080 --> 01:15:14.520
role of the Space Force in the Arctic .

01:15:15.799 --> 01:15:18.359
I'm looking at the budget and it's ,

01:15:18.479 --> 01:15:21.560
it's , uh , it's , it's pretty

01:15:21.560 --> 01:15:25.009
significant in terms of its , uh , uh ,

01:15:25.020 --> 01:15:28.729
growth , um . But I am concerned that

01:15:28.729 --> 01:15:32.470
we don't specifically call out the , uh ,

01:15:32.479 --> 01:15:35.120
the strategic investment in the Arctic .

01:15:35.240 --> 01:15:37.407
So , I'd like to ask you that question

01:15:37.407 --> 01:15:39.462
and General Wilsbach , you know it's

01:15:39.462 --> 01:15:41.796
coming to you too . Uh , so I'd like to ,

01:15:41.796 --> 01:15:44.240
to just hear from the two of you

01:15:44.240 --> 01:15:46.184
whether you think that this budget

01:15:46.359 --> 01:15:49.759
adequately reflects the ongoing

01:15:49.759 --> 01:15:51.959
priority of the Arctic at this time .

01:15:52.990 --> 01:15:55.157
Yes , Senator , I believe it is . Um ,

01:15:55.157 --> 01:15:56.934
I believe there are substantial

01:15:56.934 --> 01:15:58.823
investments . We may not call out

01:15:58.823 --> 01:16:00.823
specifically the investments are in

01:16:00.823 --> 01:16:03.046
support of the Arctic , but the posture

01:16:03.046 --> 01:16:05.212
that we have in the Arctic in Alaska ,

01:16:05.212 --> 01:16:07.101
as you all know , in Greenland in

01:16:07.101 --> 01:16:09.212
particular , and even in our northern

01:16:09.212 --> 01:16:11.157
tier bases , accomplishing missile

01:16:11.157 --> 01:16:13.046
warning , missile defense , space

01:16:13.046 --> 01:16:15.212
domain awareness , uh , vital . And we

01:16:15.212 --> 01:16:17.379
are upgrading the systems to make sure

01:16:17.379 --> 01:16:19.657
they , we get rid of some obsolescence .

01:16:19.657 --> 01:16:21.712
These are older systems , our legacy

01:16:21.712 --> 01:16:21.500
ground-based radars . We want to

01:16:21.500 --> 01:16:23.779
digitize them and make them relevant to

01:16:23.779 --> 01:16:26.229
the future fight , uh , and this budget

01:16:26.229 --> 01:16:29.470
does invest along those lines . General ,

01:16:30.649 --> 01:16:32.871
Probably the biggest example I can give

01:16:32.871 --> 01:16:34.205
you is the fighter town

01:16:34.205 --> 01:16:37.129
recapitalization at Elmendorf , of

01:16:37.129 --> 01:16:40.609
almost $7 billion to recapitalize the

01:16:40.609 --> 01:16:44.250
fighter side of that base , and that is

01:16:44.250 --> 01:16:46.899
a significant amount of money to Um ,

01:16:46.910 --> 01:16:49.509
create a very strategic spot for the

01:16:49.509 --> 01:16:51.565
fighter aircraft that we have , uh ,

01:16:51.565 --> 01:16:53.731
stationed at Elmendorf . Um , and then

01:16:53.731 --> 01:16:55.509
the other is the weapons system

01:16:55.509 --> 01:16:57.398
sustainment for the F-35s , which

01:16:57.398 --> 01:16:59.398
should improve the readiness of the

01:16:59.398 --> 01:17:01.509
F-35s . So between Elmendorf with the

01:17:01.509 --> 01:17:04.700
F-22s and Iselson with the F-35s , um ,

01:17:04.790 --> 01:17:07.270
and the strategic location of Alaska is

01:17:07.270 --> 01:17:10.470
where you can get those jets . Anywhere

01:17:10.689 --> 01:17:12.800
in the northern hemisphere in about 9

01:17:12.800 --> 01:17:14.578
hours of flying time , that's a

01:17:14.578 --> 01:17:16.890
strategic point and to invest in those

01:17:16.890 --> 01:17:20.729
two bases is increasing our capability

01:17:20.729 --> 01:17:22.896
to make those moves happen at the time

01:17:22.896 --> 01:17:24.951
and place of our choosing . Well , I

01:17:24.951 --> 01:17:27.680
thank you for , for reinforcing the

01:17:27.680 --> 01:17:29.959
priority of that and a , and , and an

01:17:29.959 --> 01:17:31.799
emphasis that this is a national

01:17:31.799 --> 01:17:34.132
priority . It's not necessarily this is ,

01:17:34.132 --> 01:17:36.080
this is an Alaska-specific or a

01:17:36.080 --> 01:17:38.379
JBA-specific , but what that allows us

01:17:38.379 --> 01:17:40.990
to do from , from the perspective of ,

01:17:41.319 --> 01:17:44.830
of true um strategic positioning . Um ,

01:17:45.120 --> 01:17:47.839
it was , it was , I think , important

01:17:47.839 --> 01:17:50.120
for colleagues , many of whom had never

01:17:50.120 --> 01:17:53.939
been to the Arctic to understand how

01:17:54.669 --> 01:17:57.200
This , this North American connect

01:17:57.200 --> 01:18:00.350
between Alaska , Canada , and then

01:18:00.490 --> 01:18:03.370
Greenland , um , how working

01:18:03.890 --> 01:18:07.709
together , we are able to , uh , to ,

01:18:07.870 --> 01:18:10.740
to have a position . Of , of not only

01:18:10.740 --> 01:18:13.839
leverage but also a , a domain

01:18:13.839 --> 01:18:16.779
awareness that doesn't come with just ,

01:18:17.200 --> 01:18:19.367
just increased assets on the ground in

01:18:19.367 --> 01:18:21.790
Alaska . It , it's , it's got to be

01:18:21.790 --> 01:18:25.020
linked together and so uh we saw some

01:18:25.345 --> 01:18:27.595
Some pretty impressive things , um ,

01:18:27.865 --> 01:18:30.225
not only in Greenland , but also

01:18:30.225 --> 01:18:32.003
understanding what our Canadian

01:18:32.003 --> 01:18:34.225
neighbors are doing , what they need to

01:18:34.225 --> 01:18:36.535
do more of , but how we integrate , uh ,

01:18:36.544 --> 01:18:38.655
across the far north is going to be ,

01:18:38.655 --> 01:18:40.766
has to be a priority moving forward .

01:18:41.140 --> 01:18:43.229
Um , to , to the point that you made

01:18:43.229 --> 01:18:45.285
about domain awareness , the funding

01:18:45.285 --> 01:18:47.507
for the E7 , as well as the space-based

01:18:47.507 --> 01:18:49.785
AMTI will help us with both , you know ,

01:18:49.785 --> 01:18:51.896
with domain awareness . Thank you for

01:18:51.896 --> 01:18:53.896
raising the E7 . You and I have had

01:18:53.896 --> 01:18:56.149
multiple conversations about how this

01:18:56.149 --> 01:18:59.069
must remain a priority for us , and I

01:18:59.069 --> 01:19:01.291
think we have seen that play out . My ,

01:19:01.291 --> 01:19:03.569
my time has expired , um , but General ,

01:19:03.569 --> 01:19:05.625
you and I have also talked about the

01:19:05.625 --> 01:19:08.884
HC1 . 30 and the importance to us in

01:19:08.884 --> 01:19:10.662
Alaska from a search and rescue

01:19:10.662 --> 01:19:12.828
perspective , but we've seen that play

01:19:12.828 --> 01:19:15.515
out in real time um in the , in the

01:19:15.515 --> 01:19:17.745
Iran conflict with the , with the need

01:19:17.745 --> 01:19:19.964
for combat search and rescue . So I

01:19:19.964 --> 01:19:23.004
would just hope that you are able to

01:19:23.004 --> 01:19:26.805
confirm the HC 130J Combat King 2

01:19:26.805 --> 01:19:29.027
fleet that that's going to be sustained

01:19:29.027 --> 01:19:31.044
nationwide to , to continue these

01:19:31.044 --> 01:19:33.377
important missions . Um , yes , Senator ,

01:19:33.377 --> 01:19:35.488
thank you . I'm glad you brought that

01:19:35.488 --> 01:19:37.711
up . Actually , one of the early , uh ,

01:19:37.711 --> 01:19:39.766
measures I took when I took the CSAF

01:19:39.766 --> 01:19:42.589
seat was to keep the HC-130s together

01:19:42.589 --> 01:19:44.680
with the HA 60s across the country ,

01:19:44.799 --> 01:19:46.743
though they're , they're , they go

01:19:46.743 --> 01:19:49.129
together and to separate them really

01:19:49.129 --> 01:19:51.018
decreases our capability . And so

01:19:51.018 --> 01:19:53.479
there's no plans in Alaska or , or

01:19:53.479 --> 01:19:55.701
anywhere else to separate those at , at

01:19:55.701 --> 01:19:57.701
this time . Very good . Thank you ,

01:19:57.701 --> 01:19:59.868
gentlemen . Thank you all . Appreciate

01:19:59.868 --> 01:20:02.750
it . Well , I want to thank all our

01:20:02.750 --> 01:20:05.810
witnesses . Thank you for your service

01:20:05.990 --> 01:20:09.589
and your testimony today . Members of

01:20:09.589 --> 01:20:11.645
the subcommittee will have a week to

01:20:11.645 --> 01:20:13.645
submit additional questions for the

01:20:13.645 --> 01:20:16.979
record . Senators may submit additional

01:20:16.979 --> 01:20:19.580
rush written questions and we ask that

01:20:19.580 --> 01:20:22.660
you respond to them within 30 days of

01:20:22.660 --> 01:20:24.779
receiving them . The subcommittee now

01:20:24.779 --> 01:20:26.970
stands in recess subject to call the

01:20:26.970 --> 01:20:27.379
chair .